Nikola Kusturica is already making an impression at UCLA. The 17-year-old Serbian prospect delivered a standout performance in just his second game with the Bruins, scoring 29 points in a dominant win over North Florida.
Kusturica poured in 26 of his 29 points in the first half, entertaining the Pauley Pavilion crowd with a series of three-pointers and dunks. His performance even prompted fans to break into the familiar “MVP! MVP!” chants.
The Serbian wing, who is not eligible for the next NBA Draft, finished with 29 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks in just 22 minutes, shooting 10-of-12 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
After the game, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin highlighted some of the less obvious aspects of Kusturica’s performance:
“First of all, he didn’t have a single turnover despite handling the ball on so many possessions. That’s really rare for a freshman. He’s a fantastic player because he can do everything on the court. He rebounds, defends and doesn’t turn the ball over. I’ve given a lot of freshmen significant playing time throughout my career, but none of them were this far along already.”
Watch Kusturica’s highlights:
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