Serbian forward Nikola Kusturica has agreed to a multiyear commitment with UCLA, according to sources cited by ESPN. The 17-year-old is considered one of the top European prospects in his class and an early candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.

Kusturica remains two years away from NBA eligibility. His recruitment featured several shifts over the past month, with Kentucky briefly emerging as the frontrunner before Michigan gained momentum prior to Dusty May's departure for the Dallas Mavericks.

Gonzaga was also involved in pursuing the 6-foot-8 forward.

Kusturica delivered a standout performance at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Turkiye, earning a spot on the tournament's All-Star Five after averaging 24.6 points and 6.9 rebounds across seven games. He also claimed Best Defensive Player honors, adding 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

In Serbia's gold medal loss to the United States, Kusturica posted 37 points and nine rebounds.

The performance marked his second consecutive summer establishing himself among the top international prospects. He earned MVP honors at last year's FIBA U16 EuroBasket, averaging 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists while leading Serbia to gold.

Kusturica has been part of FC Barcelona's youth system since 2023. He became the youngest player in club history to appear for Barcelona's first team when he made his competitive debut in September 2025.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin is expected to lean heavily on Kusturica despite his youth. The Bruins return three starters from last season's 24-12 squad and add four transfers from power-conference programs, including fellow Europeans Filip Jovic and Sergej Macura.