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UCLA Secures U17 Star Kusturica with Seven-Figure Deal

7/10/2026

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Summary

Kusturica Commits UCLA

Nikola Kusturica committed to UCLA for 2026–27 and signed a deal before the 2028 NBA draft.
He averaged 24.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in the U17 World Cup, and scored 37 points with nine rebounds in the final versus the United States.
UCLA says Kusturica and teammate Joaquim Boumtje will receive seven-figure deals and expects his 6’7 wing to aid a roster that includes Filip Jovic and Sergej Macura.

Summary

Jovanovic Secures Kusturica

Assistant coach Nemanja “Yogi” Jovanovic secured Kusturica for UCLA.
UCLA’s roster now has 12 players eligible through 2027-28 and at least 10 through 2029, thanks to the five-year rule.
UCLA signed Kusturica to a two-year NIL contract while its NIL fund remained intact, unlike rivals.
Admission was delayed by holiday processing, but Kusturica’s English-based schooling at FC Barcelona met UCLA’s criteria.

Summary

Kusturica Debuts

Nikola Kusturica became the youngest player ever to appear for FC Barcelona’s senior team in September 2025.
He entered Barcelona’s system in 2023 and posted 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 33.9% three-point shooting in 2025-26.
Early reports claimed Kentucky offered a substantial NIL package, but those claims were later shown to be inaccurate.
Kusturica led Serbia to a silver medal at the FIBA U17 World Cup, leading team in scoring and rebounding.

History

Historical Context

After the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the U.S. “Dream Team”—the first NBA-filled squad—won gold by an average 44-point margin, igniting worldwide demand for American basketball talent. European programs, notably Serbia, began exporting players, a pipeline that now sees UCLA recruit Serbian prodigy Nikola Kusturica, a former FC Barcelona youth star, continuing the Dream Team’s legacy.

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Kusturica Commits UCLA

Nikola Kusturica committed to UCLA for 2026–27 and signed a deal before the 2028 NBA draft.
He averaged 24.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in the U17 World Cup, and scored 37 points with nine rebounds in the final versus the United States.
UCLA says Kusturica and teammate Joaquim Boumtje will receive seven-figure deals and expects his 6’7 wing to aid a roster that includes Filip Jovic and Sergej Macura.

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