Kentucky Basketball appears to be closing in on another significant addition as it finalizes the 2026-27 roster.
The BBN recently learned that the Wildcats have been making a move for Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica, a 6-foot-9 international prospect who already has NBA scouts paying close attention. Kentucky is very much in the race, though Gonzaga had been viewed as the frontrunner, largely because the Bulldogs have a more pressing immediate need and have been tracking him for a longer stretch.
But that situation may have just taken a turn. 247 Sports’ Travis Branham has now logged a prediction in favor of Kentucky landing Kusturica, giving it a confidence rating of 7. If that holds, it would be a huge late pickup for Mark Pope and his staff, extending their current momentum after a rocky start to the offseason.
During the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket Tournament, Kusturica put up 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, shooting 49.5% from the floor and 30.8% from three over 25.6 minutes a night. He took home MVP honors for the tournament and is now viewed as a potential lottery selection in the 2028 NBA Draft.
NBA Draft Room currently slots him at No. 2 overall in its 2028 mock draft, which speaks volumes about how highly evaluators regard his game. Since he only recently turned 17, he’ll need to spend two years in college basketball, meaning he’s likely to develop into a featured player for whichever program lands him before he heads to the pros.
And it’s looking more and more like Kentucky could be that program.
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