UCLA basketball freshman wise, skilled beyond his years

Maybe comparing UCLA freshman Nikola Kusturica to a younger version of NBA All-Stars Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going far enough.“This might sound a little cocky,” Kusturica said Tuesday with a smile when relayed the comparison made by teammate Xavier Booker, “but I think I’m also a little better passer.”Kusturica would know.The 17-year-old small forward who is projected as a top pick in the 2028 NBA Draft spent some time this summer working out with Antetokounmpo.

He was struck by the 10-time All-Star’s relentless approach.“To see how an NBA star is working like he’s hungry and he has everything already,” Kusturica said, “that was a big thing for me.”He carries that drive with him everywhere.Stopping Kusturica from getting onto the court might be as hard as preventing one of his silky drives toward the basket.Bruins coach Mick Cronin barred his top recruit from an extra workout this summer after noticing he was starting to wear down a bit from lengthy practices and additional evening sessions with team managers.“He goes hard, he never subs out,” Cronin said of a player who is expected to become an immediate starter.

“He acts like a senior as far as that goes.… I have got to manage him as far as how to get through this, but he’s so driven to be a great player.”Of course, hard work isn’t the half of it when it comes to what Kusturica brings the Bruins.His impossibly long arms and legs give the impression that he’s even taller than his listed height of 6 feet 9.

During the brief portion of practice Tuesday that reporters were allowed to observe, Kusturica used those limbs to effortlessly poke away a ball and smother anyone who tried to drive around him.In every movement, he was determined and confident.On a roster that includes plenty of juniors and seniors, it would have been nearly impossible to spot the freshman if one didn’t know his identity.“It’s really, really hard,” Cronin said, “to grasp ...