UCLA’s incoming class just got a major boost, and Mick Cronin isn’t hiding how much he likes what the Bruins added.
The program officially signed two overseas prospects this week in Gunārs Grīnvalds and Nikola Kusturica, both of whom are expected to be part of UCLA’s 2026-27 freshman group alongside Javonte Floyd and Joe Philon. The pair gives the Bruins two more high-level pieces to plug into the future.
Grīnvalds arrives as a 6-foot-7 forward from Latvia, with his most recent stop coming at Real Madrid. He also played in the U18 Adidas Next Generation Tournament, where he put up 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.
Kusturica is the headliner. The 6-foot-9 prospect picked UCLA after drawing interest from several high-major programs, and he’s already being talked about as a potential lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.
Most recently with FC Barcelona, he turned heads at the FIBA U17 World Cup by averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 47 percent from the floor across seven games. He was also the youngest player in Barcelona history to appear for the senior team, and he’ll spend at least two seasons at UCLA before becoming draft eligible.
Cronin laid out exactly why both players fit what UCLA wants.
“Gunārs can really shoot the ball at an elite level. We like that he has good size at his position, and we are excited that he has chosen to join us at UCLA,” Cronin said regarding Grinvalds.
“Gunārs is interested in his development and continued improvement as a player. We believe he is a great fit here at UCLA, as he’s an excellent student and a very hard worker.”
On Kusturica, Cronin didn’t hold back either.
“Nikola is an elite prospect with great size, skill and a competitive fire which is hard to find. As a 6-foot-9 guard, he can play all over the floor.
He impacts the game as a scorer, playmaker and shot blocker. For a very young player, Nik has had a decorated career with the Serbian national team and his club team in Barcelona.
UCLA appreciates the support of his international team and his club for their cooperation and development of Nikola,” he added, regarding Kusturica.
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