UCLA signs Serbian star Nikola Kusturica for 2026-27 season

UCLA men's basketball has secured a major international recruiting victory with the addition of Serbian standout Nikola Kusturica, who will join the program for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The university announced the signing on Thursday, July 9, finalizing a commitment that adds one of Europe's top young prospects to the Bruins' roster.

The 17-year-old Kusturica, a 6-foot-9 guard/forward, chose UCLA after a recruitment process that reportedly included other prominent programs such as Kentucky, Michigan, and Gonzaga. His decision followed a shift in the landscape last month when Michigan's head coach, Dusty May, departed for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, which altered the dynamic of his recruitment. UCLA coach Mick Cronin praised Kusturica as an elite prospect with great size, skill, and a competitive fire, highlighting his versatility to play all over the floor as a scorer, playmaker, and shot blocker.

Kusturica's recent performances have solidified his status as a potential top NBA draft pick in 2028. Most notably, he averaged a team-leading 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists for Serbia at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, earlier this month. In the gold-medal...