​Nikola Kusturica, one of the top international prospects in the 2026 class, has announced his decision. On Thursday, news broke that Kusturica had pledged to UCLA, choosing the Bruins over Kentucky and narrowing the Wildcats’ options for their 15th and final roster spot for the 2026-27 season. The 6-foot-9 wing currently plies his trade with FC Barcelona within Spain’s Liga ACB and the EuroLeague system. At just 17 years old, Kusturica is already projected as a first-round pick in the 2028 NBA Draft, and he will need to spend two years in college before he becomes eligible to enter the NBA.
In the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket Tournament, Kusturica posted impressive numbers, averaging 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.5% from the field, 30.8% from beyond the arc, and 79.1% at the free-throw line over 25.6 minutes per contest. Across 34 international appearances in the 2025-26 season, he contributed 11 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 18.5 minutes per game.
For Big Blue Nation, interest in Kusturica only surfaced in recent weeks, but it quickly became clear that Kentucky stood among the leading contenders. Although programs such as Louisville, Arizona, Duke, and North Carolina also pursued him, the competition seemed to center on a trio: Kentucky, Michigan, and UCLA as decision day approached. In the end, the Bruins emerged victorious, leaving Kentucky to explore other options to complete its final roster.
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