Does UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin envision much of a learning adjustment for highly-touted freshman Nikola Kusturica as he adjusts to American basketball at the NCAA level?
Cronin told Ben Bolch of the California Post that while it might not always be smooth-sailing, that Kusturica’s talent will make him a dangerous player, even if he is only 17-years old during the 2026-2027 season.
“Obviously, playing at 17 in college is going to be a challenge, but when you watch him, you’re going to have to remind yourself that he’s 17 years old,” Cronin said to the California Post. ““He’s got a desire to be great — not good, he wants to be great, he wants to be coached.”
Cronin also told Bolch the details of what it took to land Kusturica at UCLA. The
recruitment featured near daily phone calls at 6:00a.m. California time to Kusturcia and his family back in Serbia, as well as to Kusturica’s agent in Greece.
Cronin’s hard work paid off, signing Kusturica to a two-year deal with UCLA before the Serbian forward is eligible for the 2028 NBA Draft.
“I mean, he’s one of the most talented players in the world in his class,” Cronin said. “He’s going to impact winning right away.”
It’s easy to see why Cronin is so optimistic about Kusturica. In the FIBA World Cup this summer, the 17-year old scored 37 points against the United States in the Gold Medal game while also winning the tournament’s best defensive player. If Kusturica can keep it going stateside then UCLA has a ton of young depth entering into this season.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Mick Cronin shares details of Nikola Kusturica's recruitment
