​Nikola Kusturica of Serbia looks on during the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup final match between the United States and Serbia at BDC Main Venue in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 5, 2026. (Photo by Yagiz Gurtug/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Nikola Jokic. Nikola Jovic. Nikola Topic. And now… Nikola Kusturica. There is clearly something about the name Nikola when it comes to Serbian basketball and the United States. The latest Nikola to arrive on the American basketball scene is 17-year-old Kusturica, but his path will look different from those who came before him. He is not coming to the United States after a professional career in Europe with the NBA as the immediate destination. Instead, Kusturica is taking advantage of the new NIL era, choosing college basketball as the next step in what has already been a remarkable rise.And he has landed at UCLA.The Bruins won the race for one of Europe’s most intriguing young prospects, giving head coach Mick Cronin a player who could become one of the program’s most important pieces over the next two seasons. Kusturica’s name has already started to travel well beyond Serbia and Europe. His performance at this summer’s FIBA U17 World Cup only accelerated the attention. In the championship game, Kusturica faced off against another elite prospect, Duke big man Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, who ultimately helped the United States capture the gold medal. But the matchup also offered a glimpse into a potential college rivalry down the road: Boumtje at Duke, Kusturica at UCLA.Two blue-blood programs. Two highly touted young players. And potentially plenty of battles still to come. For Kusturica, this is the latest chapter of a rise that has happened remarkably quickly.The 17-year-old small forward comes from Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city – a place that has produced plenty of basketball talent, including Darko Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft, ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others.Just two years ago, Kusturica was still establishing himself. Last year, he won a gold medal with Serbia at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket and spent time in Barcelona’s youth system.This summer, he took another step. On the biggest stage available to a player his age, he showed why some of the biggest college programs in the country were willing to compete for his commitment.But to understand how Kusturica got here, it is worth going back to the beginning.Filip Jokic knows exactly what Kusturica looked like before the hype. The Serbian coach worked with him for three years at BC Defense in Novi Sad, when Kusturica was just 12 years old. Jokic recognized almost immediately that he was dealing with a different kind of talent. He also has some experience identifying high-level prospects. Among the players he has worked with is Topic, who was selected No. 12 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.“From the very beginning, it was clear t