UCLA’s Nikola Kusturica didn’t just open the 2026-27 college basketball season with a bang. He forced his way to the front of the freshman conversation in a way that turns heads even before the calendar gets serious.
Kusturica, who won CBS Sports/USBWA Freshman of the Week honors, put together the kind of start that makes you stop and reset your expectations. The 17-year-old forward poured in 29 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out three assists and blocked two shots in UCLA’s blowout win over North Florida. He did it while committing no turnovers, a detail Mick Cronin was quick to spotlight.
"He’s a great player," Cronin said. "Not a good player, a great player because he does everything on the court. What I would tell you is he had no turnovers with the ball in his hands all the time, which for a freshman, is unheard of."
That performance came on the heels of another eye-opening outing against Arizona, where Kusturica also stuffed the stat sheet and helped UCLA pull the upset on opening night. Across those two games, he has yet to turn the ball over once. Even when the scoring isn’t the headline, he’s making his presence felt at both ends.
The numbers back up the buzz. Through two games, Kusturica is averaging 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Against North Florida, he was nearly flawless: 29 points in 26 minutes, 10-for-12 from the field, 4-for-5 from three and 5-for-5 at the line. He hit his first nine shots and added six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
That’s why there’s already talk about him as the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. He’s also not eligible for the 2027 draft because he won’t turn 18 until 2027, along with Duke’s Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Texas’ Marcus Spears Jr.
Kusturica sits atop this week’s Frosh Watch rankings, but he’s not the only freshman making noise.
Kansas forward Tyran Stokes comes in at No. 2 after averaging 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He opened his college career with 15 points, seven rebounds and a block in a blowout over Fordham, though Kansas has only played him 46 minutes so far because both games were lopsided. His bigger test comes Tuesday against Kentucky in the Champions Classic.
West Virginia guard Miles Sadler lands at No. 3 after averaging 20.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists. The 6-foot guard, a preseason Freshman All-American by CBS Sports, has already shown why. He scored 25 points in his second college game against Stetson and has 15 assists through his first two contests.
Illinois guard Quentin Coleman checks in at No. 4 with averages of 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He nearly posted a triple-double in his debut with 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 23 minutes, then followed that with 19 points in 20 minutes per game. Illinois, once again, looks set to have one of the nation’s best offenses.
Arkansas guard Jordan Smith Jr. rounds out the top five after averaging 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He had 19 points, four steals and three assists in a loss to Virginia last weekend, and opened his college career with 20 points and three steals. Smith is already looking like a major two-way weapon for John Calipari’s team.
In Other News...
UCLA's CFP Push Is Fueling An Uncomfortable Rose Bowl Debate
UCLAs unbeaten start has put the Bruins back into the College Football Playoff conversation, but it has also put an old problem right back in the spotlight. Troy Aikman voiced concern about the sparse crowds at UCLA games, and coach Bob Chesney has acknowledged the challenge, saying the program needs stronger fan engagement on campus as the season builds toward bigger stakes.
The issue was hard to ignore at the Bruins last home game, when attendance dipped to a season-low 24,611. With Illinois, Michigan and USC still ahead, UCLA has a chance to keep turning its on-field momentum into something louder in the stands, but the gap between the teams results and its home atmosphere remains an uncomfortable part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Hot Start Is Being Driven By A Practice Battle Fans Will Love
UCLAs fast start against Minnesota had plenty of game-day highlights, but the Bruins energy has been building long before kickoff. In the 34-20 win, Ty Dieffenbach turned in a career-best passing performance and Aidan Mizell delivered the kind of explosive plays that can change a game in a hurry, connecting on a pair of long touchdowns that stretched the field and tilted the momentum. On the other side of the ball, Scooter Jackson helped steady things with an interception, giving UCLA another reminder that its playmakers are showing up on both sides.
Bob Chesney has pointed to the work behind the scenes as a big reason the Bruins are carrying that edge onto the field. The practices have been competitive, with players like Mizell and Jackson pushing each other in ways that have sharpened the roster and raised the standard. For a team trying to turn early success into something more durable, that sort of internal battle may be just as important as the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Puts Its Perfect Season In Ty Dieffenbachs Hands
UCLA heads into its matchup with Illinois carrying a spotless 9-0 record and a growing sense that this stretch could tell us plenty about how far the Bruins can go. The No. 9 team in the country has been steady enough to keep winning while navigating a quarterback change, and now it gets a home test against an Illini team that has found its footing after a rough start and has won four in a row.
Ty Dieffenbach is the latest reason for confidence in Westwood, stepping into the starting role after Nico Iamaleavas injury and handling the job well in recent games. Illinois arrives with momentum and enough confidence to make this more than a routine tune-up, which is why the betting market has kept a close eye on it. For UCLA, the bigger question is whether the unbeaten run can keep rolling with Dieffenbach steering the offense through another meaningful conference-style test. [Read more 🡒]