Mick Cronin details UCLA recruitment of Serbian forward Nikola Kusturica

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin finalized the recruitment of Serbian teenager Nikola Kusturica to bolster the Bruins roster for the 2026-2027 season. Cronin secured the freshman through a persistent recruitment effort that included daily 6:00 a.m. phone calls to Kusturica, his family in Serbia, and his agent in Greece. The forward signed a two-year deal with UCLA and remains eligible for the 2028 NBA Draft. Kusturica previously garnered international attention during the FIBA World Cup, where he earned tournament best defensive player honors and scored 37 points against the United States in the Gold Medal game. Cronin describes the 17-year-old as one of the most talented players in his class and expects him to impact team performance immediately despite the adjustment to the NCAA level.

• 7:15 PMYahoo Sports — Mick Cronin shares details of Nikola Kusturica's recruitment