Mark Pope’s pursuit of Nikola Kusturica appears to be taking a few turns, but some good news might finally be on the way. While the Serbian hasn’t committed to Kentucky just yet, it seems the Wildcats are very much primed to take advantage as some frontrunners back out.
And one such name is Gonzaga, which was recently listed as a frontrunner to recruit Kusturica, who is currently playing at FC Barcelona but seems willing to move to the United States of America to play college basketball. With all the financial benefits that come with NIL, it might be the best move for the teenager.
While Gonzaga had been viewed as one of the top contenders, Bleed Blue Network recruiting analyst Dylan Brake reported on Friday that the school has moved on and won’t be interested in Kusturica anymore, leaving the door open for programs such as Kentucky and Michigan.
“I think it’s Kentucky, or Michigan if this is a bidding war. They’ve seemed to have pivoted to secondary guards. I think while Gonzaga staff is high on him, they won’t pay more than $3m for a guy who they think should be playing 15mpg,” a source told Brake.
Brake added that Kentucky might very well get a deal done, even though Dusty May is pushing hard for Michigan to make the move and spend money on the European.
Kentucky Isn’t Afraid to Spend the Big Bucks
It seems getting Nikola Kusturica to play in college won’t come cheap, but Kentucky has shown it isn’t afraid to splash the cash, with over $6 million reportedly spent on recruiting Milan Momcilovic after he withdrew from the NBA draft.
Momcilovic hasn’t played a game yet for the Wildcats but is already being predicted as the jewel in the crown for Mark Pope as Kentucky pushes to win a national championship.
Read more:
Mark Pope’s Spot Reportedly Under Threat as Former Chicago Bulls Coach Linked With Kentucky
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