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UCLA basketball lands commitment from elite Serbian prospect over Kentucky
By Ethan Stone
Published:
UCLA basketball landed a commitment from an absolutely massive prospect on Saturday, scoring projected NBA lottery pick Nikola Kusturica over the likes of Kentucky and Michigan.
According to Eurohoops, Kusturica is expected to sign a deal with UCLA worth $12 million in NIL funds.
Kusturica is not your typical international prospect. The Serbian plays for FC Barcelona in Spain and is being hailed as one of the most talented Serbian basketball players ever — and that’s knowing full well that Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic exists.
Kusturica is a projected top 3 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft, possessing handles and shooting as a 6-foot-8 wing. The 17-year-old currently playing for Serbia’s FIBA U17 squad, averaging 22 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Check out some highlights from Kusturica below:
UCLA currently holds commitments from 3 prospects in the Class of 2026 apart from Kusturica, including 4-star power forward Joe Philon, 3-star center Javonte Floyd and unranked prospect Gunars Grinvalds, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Latvia.
The Bruins are looking to make their way back to the NCAA Tournament for a 3rd straight year, this time hoping to make it past the Sweet 16 after being knocked out in the Round of 32 in 2024 and 2025.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.