Сербийн авьяаслаг тоглогч Никола Кустурица ирээдүйн NBA-ийн драфтын хамгийн өндөр хүлээлттэй залуу тоглогчоор нэрлэгдэж байна.
Олон улсын шилдэг залуу тоглогч Никола Кустурица 2026 оны долдугаар сарын 9-ний пүрэв гарагт UCLA-тай гэрээ байгууллаа. 17 настай, 6-foot-9 өндөртэй довтлогч нь ФК Барселона багийн үндсэн бүрэлдэхүүнд багтсан хамгийн залуу тоглогч болсон түүхтэй. Тэрээр Кентакки, Мичиган, Гонзага зэрэг сургуулиудыг сонголтоосоо хасаж, UCLA-г илүүд үзсэн байна.
UCLA-ийн дасгалжуулагч Мик Кронин Николаг гайхалтай бие бялдар, ур чадвартай, өрсөлдөх чадвар өндөр тоглогч хэмээн тодорхойлжээ. Тэрээр талбайн бүхий л хэсэгт тоглож, оноо авах, дамжуулалт өгөх, хаалт хийх зэргээр тоглолтод чухал нөлөө үзүүлдэг болохыг онцолсон байна.
Кустурица Турк улсад болсон FIBA-ийн 17 хүртэлх насныхны Дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээнд дунджаар 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds гүйцэтгэсэн. Тэрээр АНУ-ын эсрэг алтан медалийн төлөөх тоглолтод 37 points авч, тэмцээний шилдэг хамгаалагчаар тодорсон юм. Мөн 2025 оны FIBA-ийн 16 хүртэлх насныхны Евробаскет тэмцээнд дунджаар 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists-ээр тэргүүлж, MVP болсон амжилттай.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
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Top international recruit Nikola Kusturica signed with UCLA basketball on Thursday, July 9, landing coach Mick Cronin arguably the best prospect of the 2028 NBA Draft.
Kusturica, from Serbia, is 17 years old and will play college basketball for at least two years, as he’s two years away from being eligible for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 forward is the youngest player to ever appear for FC Barcelona’s senior team.
He chose the Bruins over Kentucky, Michigan and Gonzaga, according to reports.
“Nikola is an elite prospect with great size, skill and a competitive fire which is hard to find,” Cronin said in UCLA’s announcement. “As a 6-foot-9 guard, he can play all over the floor. He impacts the game as a scorer, playmaker and shot blocker. For a very young player, Nik has had a decorated career with the Serbian national team and his club team in Barcelona.
“UCLA appreciates the support of his international team and his club for their cooperation and development of Nikola.”
Kusturica averaged 24.6 points with 6.9 rebounds in the FIBA Under-17 World Cup from June 27 to July 5 in Turkey. He also won Best Defensive Player after averaging 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, and scored 37 points against the United States in Serbia’s gold-medal game loss.
Kusturica was also named MVP of the 2025 FIBA Under-16 Eurobasket tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia, after averaging 20 points with 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading Serbia to its first title at the tournament since 2007. He scored 18 points with 14 rebounds, eight assists and five steals in the championship game.
One of he youngest players in college basketball will likely play a huge role from the start for the Bruins, which has signed multiple European recruits in the past year. Cronin signed Mississippi State transfer Sergej Macura and Auburn transfer Filip Jovic in the transfer portal this offseason, and also announced Kusturica’s signing with fellow incoming freshman Gunārs Grīnvalds from Latvia and Real Madrid.
Nikola Kusturica highlights
Here are Kusturica’s highlights from his 37-point game against the United States in the FIBA Under-17 World Cup:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikola Kusturica, potential No. 1 pick in 2028, signs with UCLA basketball
