Nikola Kusturica, one of the top international prospects in the 2026 class, has made his decision.
On Thursday, news broke that Kusturica had committed to UCLA over Kentucky, leaving the Wildcats still searching to fill their 15th and final roster spot for the 2026-27 season.
The 6-foot-9 wing currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain’s Liga ACB and EuroLeague system. At just 17 years old, Kusturica is already a projected first-round pick in the 2028 NBA Draft, and he’ll have to spend two years in college
before being eligible to join the NBA.
In the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket Tournament, Kusturica averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.5% from the field, 30.8% on 3-pointers, and 79.1% from the free-throw line across 25.6 minutes per game.
In 34 international games in the 2025-26 season, he averaged 11 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 18.5 minutes per outing
Big Blue Nation only heard about Kentucky’s interest in Kusturica in recent weeks, but it quickly became evident that the Wildcats were among the top contenders. While schools like Louisville, Arizona, Duke, and North Carolina also showed interest, this was seen as a battle between Kentucky, Michigan, and UCLA heading into decision time.
In the end, the Bruins won out, and Kentucky will have to look elsewhere to fill its final roster spot.
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