UCLA Signs 17-Year-Old Nikola Kusturica to Multi-Year Deal as Serbian Star Eyes 2028 NBA Draft
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 9
UCLA Signs 17-Year-Old Nikola Kusturica to Multi-Year Deal as Serbian Star Eyes 2028 NBA Draft
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 9
Summary
Kusturica finalized a multi-year agreement with UCLA on Thursday, putting the 17-year-old Serbian wing on track to spend two seasons in college before becoming eligible for the 2028 NBA Draft.
A reported two-year, $12 million offer helped pull him from Barcelona’s developmental system after his camp signaled openness to U.S. college basketball, triggering a recruiting battle with Kentucky, Michigan and Gonzaga.
His stock surged again at the FIBA U17 World Cup, where he averaged 24.6 points and 6.9 rebounds, won best defensive player honors, and dropped 37 points in Serbia’s 107-81 loss to the United States in the final.
NBA scouts already view Kusturica as an early No. 1 contender for 2028, underscoring how NIL-era compensation is drawing elite international prospects to NCAA programs that once rarely landed them.