UCLA Men’s Basketball Adds Promising Forward
After a period of quiet on the recruiting front, the UCLA men’s basketball team has made an intriguing addition at a position they needed to strengthen.
Nikola Kusturica, a talented 17-year-old from Serbia, has agreed to join the Bruins, potentially filling a significant gap at small forward.
The 6-foot-7 player, who will turn 18 next April, won’t be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2028, which means he has at least two years of college basketball ahead of him. Some experts even suggest he could become a lottery pick.
Securing Kusturica is a notable achievement for Coach Mick Cronin, especially with other prestigious programs like Michigan, Kentucky, and Gonzaga vying for his commitment. UCLA managed to attract him with an appealing NIL package.
Given his attributes, Kusturica could start right away. He’s got impressive size, solid playmaking abilities, and excellent shooting range. These skills were showcased recently when he scored 37 points against Team USA in the FIBA U-17 World Cup championship.
Before that standout performance, Kusturica earned MVP honors at the 2025 FIBA U-16 EuroBasket Tournament, where he led his team to victory. His stats from that tournament—20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks—demonstrate his well-rounded game.
His success also led him to FC Barcelona, making him the youngest player to compete in the top-tier Euroleague. However, his commitment to FIBA might delay his arrival on campus until August.
While he is likely to face challenges adjusting to college basketball, his talent and potential stand out, particularly considering his age and the need to adapt to Cronin’s defensive schemes. The question now is whether Cronin will allow Kusturica to work through mistakes or if he’ll be quick to bench him when things go awry.
Having Kusturica as a starter could also allow Eric Daley Jr. to play his preferred power forward position alongside center Xavier Booker. Other options for small forward include Eric Freeny, transfer Sergei Makura, and freshman Joe Fillon, but none possess the same enticing skill set as Kusturica.
UCLA’s success in recruiting Kusturica was likely aided by Serbian assistant coach Nemanja “Yogi” Jovanovic, who oversees the team’s international recruiting. Forwards Filip Jovic and Makura also have experience playing for the Serbian team in the Adriatic Basketball Association.
The Bruins have had mixed outcomes with European recruits in the past; for instance, center Adei Mara showed promise before transferring to Michigan State, where he later won a national title and became an NBA lottery pick. Others like Berke Büyüktuncel and Jan Hvide had brief stints with minimal impact.
Nonetheless, Kusturica stands as the most sought-after European player UCLA has recruited since Mara, significantly boosting the team’s outlook for the upcoming season. He becomes UCLA’s seventh and likely final recruit, joining Jovic, Makura, Jalen Petty, Azavier Robinson, as well as freshmen Philon and Javonte Floyd.
