Serbia’s Nikola Kusturica Lands at UCLA, Boosting 2028 NBA Draft Buzz
- On Thursday, Serbian basketball prospect Nikola Kusturica signed a multiyear deal with UCLA, sources told ESPN, leaving FC Barcelona to join the Bruins for the 2026-27 season.
- Kusturica's recruitment shifted last month after Michigan coach Dusty May departed for the Dallas Mavericks; UCLA assistant Nemanja 'Yogi' Jovanovic secured the commitment over competing programs.
- Scouting reports describe him as a "thin, lean wing with three-level scoring ability and the skill set to create his own shot." He scored 37 points in the FIBA U17 World Cup gold-medal game against the United States.
- Both Kusturica and teammate Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje are taking an untraditional path by enrolling in college early, earning seven figures in NIL deals this season before becoming eligible for the 2028 NBA draft.
- Coach Mick Cronin expects the 17-year-old to make an immediate impact on the Bruins' roster, providing necessary firepower on the wing throughout the 2026-27 season at 17 years old.
33 Articles
33 Articles
The Toronto Star
Serbia’s Nikola Kusturica lands at UCLA, boosting 2028 NBA draft buzz
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nikola Kusturica of Serbia is joining UCLA's basketball program this fall, along with Gunars Grinvalds of Latvia, the school announced Thursday.
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UCLA lands potential top draft pick, Serbian star Nikola Kusturica
Serbian star Nikola Kusturica is headed to UCLA after a heated recruitment battle for the versatile forward projected to be among the top picks in the 2028 NBA Draft. Kusturica, who is 17, scored 37 points against the United States in the FIBA U17 W...
Possible 2028 NBA Draft No. 1 Pick Nikola Kusturica Commits To UCLA
Serbian forward Nikola Kusturica has agreed to a multiyear commitment with UCLA, according to sources cited by ESPN. The 17-year-old is considered one of the top European prospects in his class and an early candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. Kusturica remains two years away from NBA eligibility. His recruitment featured several shifts over the past month, with Kentucky briefly emerging as the frontrunner before Michigan gained m…
UCLA men’s basketball adds young, promising talent in Nikola Kusturica
UCLA men's basketball coach Mick Cronin has snagged a potential future lottery pick in NIkola Kusturica, a 6-foot-7 wing from Serbia who is considered one of the top young players in Europe.
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- 44% of the sources are Center
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