UCLA lands potential top draft pick, Serbian star Nikola Kusturica

Field Level Media|published: 07/09/2026, 3:49pm EDT

Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin speaks with the media before a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Serbian star Nikola Kusturica is headed to UCLA after a heated recruitment battle for the versatile forward projected to be among the top picks in the 2028 NBA Draft.

Kusturica, who is 17, scored 37 points against the United States in the FIBA U17 World Cup championship game on Sunday.

Michigan, Kentucky and scores of other programs were on the trail of Kusturica, who was a teammate of Duke commit Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje with FC Barcelona.

The 6-foot-9 Kusturica is an active big, can get downhill with the ball and keeps himself and the ball moving on the offensive end of the court.

UCLA coach Mike Cronin -- no doubt a fan of his high-revving motor -- also has three starters returning for the Bruins in forwards Eric Dailey Jr. and Xavier Booker and point guard Trent Perry.

Kusturica is the highest-rated recruit for UCLA since Lonzo Ball in 2016. He's considered a contender to be the first overall pick in the 2028 draft along with Boumtje-Boumtje, who is also 17 years old and thereby ineligible for next year's NBA draft.

During seven games for silver medal-winning Serbia in the FIBA U17 World Cup, Kusturica averaged 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks.

--Field Level Media