Full Breakdown
UCLA Lands International Freshmen, Including NBA-Draft-Bound Serbian Forward
7/11/2026, 12:54:36 PM
UCLA Secures International Freshmen for 2026-27 Season
UCLA men’s basketball announced that Serbian guard/forward Nikola Kusturica and Latvian forward Gunars Grinvalds will join the Bruins’ 2026-27 freshman class. The recruits arrive alongside existing freshmen Javonte Floyd and Joe Philon III, expanding the roster with two players who have already competed at the highest levels of European youth basketball.
Player Profiles and Recent Performance
Kusturica, who turned 17 in April, spent the 2023-24 season with FC Barcelona’s youth program, helping the team win the U18 Adidas Next Generation Tournament. Over six games he averaged 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists, finishing the title game with 20 points and 10 rebounds. In Spain’s U22 league (2025-26) he posted 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 19 contests, scoring in double figures in 16 of them. At the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup, Kusturica led Serbia with 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, adding a tournament-best 16 steals and 12 blocks to earn Best Defensive Player honors.
Grinvalds, a 6-7 forward, most recently played for Real Madrid in Spain’s Liga ACB and contributed to the club’s LigaU title. In the U18 Adidas Next Generation Tournament he averaged 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 51 % overall and 37 % from three-point range while logging at least 25 minutes per game. He also represented Latvia at the 2024 U16 EuroBasket.
Coach Mick Cronin’s Remarks
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin expressed enthusiasm for the additions, highlighting Kusturica’s size, skill set and competitive drive, and praising Grinvalds’s shooting ability and work ethic. Cronin noted the program’s appreciation for the cooperation of Kusturica’s Serbian national team and Barcelona club in his development.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are very excited to add both Nikola and Gunars to our program,” — Mick Cronin, UCLA head coach
- “Nikola is an elite prospect with great size, skill and a competitive fire which is hard to find.” — Mick Cronin
- “Gunars can really shoot the ball at an elite level.” — Mick Cronin
- “He impacts the game as a scorer, playmaker and shot blocker.” — Mick Cronin
Outlook for the Bruins
The arrival of Kusturica, a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2028 NBA Draft according to ESPN insider Jeff Borzello, and the seasoned European experience of Grinvalds, gives UCLA a rare infusion of high-caliber international talent. Their performances in elite youth competitions suggest they could contribute immediately, potentially reshaping the Bruins’ competitive trajectory in the Pac-12 and beyond.
