Washington forward Nikola Dzepina is giving the Huskies something to watch closely this summer.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore has been a standout for Serbia at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket tournament, and his play has carried his country into the championship game. Serbia advanced Saturday with a 72-65 semifinal win over Spain, a game in which Dzepina filled the box score with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and five blocks.
That kind of all-around production is exactly what Washington could use next season. The Huskies are counting on several players to take real steps forward if they want to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019, and Dzepina is one of the names that could matter most.
So far in the tournament, he has looked like a different player than the one Washington saw late last season. Through six games, Dzepina is averaging 14.5 points while shooting 51.8% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range.
He has also added 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and two blocks per game. His best outing came July 11 against Poland, when he posted 21 points and 13 rebounds for his lone double-double of the event.
Serbia’s opponent in the title game will be Slovenia, which brings another name familiar to Washington’s recruiting radar. Urban Kroflic, a potential future teammate of Dzepina’s, will be on the other side in the final after Slovenia edged France 91-89 in the other semifinal Saturday. Kroflic could also be in line to be named the tournament MVP.
Dzepina’s path at Washington has been slower. He arrived late last season and bounced in and out of the rotation, and his freshman numbers reflected that adjustment period. He averaged 2.6 points on 30.2% shooting from the floor and 1.3 rounds while appearing in 14 games and logging 11.1 minutes per contest.
Now, with Serbia one win away from the EuroBasket crown, Washington has a much clearer glimpse of what Dzepina might become. If this summer carries over, he could end up being one of the Huskies’ most important players next season.
In Other News...
Washington Still Has One Big Frontcourt Problem To Solve
Washingtons frontcourt picture is still coming into focus as Danny Sprinkle pieces together a roster that mixes returning players, transfer help and international additions. The Huskies have enough bodies to build around, but not enough certainty yet, especially at power forward and center, where several options come with very different kinds of risk and upside.
Wini Braga, Lathan Sommerville and Mady Traore all fit into the conversation, but each brings a different tradeoff for a team trying to get its interior rotation right before the season starts. Sommervilles health history, Traores lost season and Bragas unfamiliar profile all leave Washington with decisions to make, and the staff is still weighing how the frontcourt should be shaped if it wants both toughness on the glass and enough scoring inside. [Read more 🡒]
One Open Huskies Receiver Job Could Shape Washington's Entire Offense
Washington is bringing back much of the talent that made its offense dangerous, but one of the more important jobs on the roster is still up for grabs. The starting wide receiver spots are not settled yet, and that leaves a real opening for several players trying to carve out roles on the outside as the Huskies get closer to locking in their depth chart.
Christian Moss is part of that competition, giving Washington a transfer with prior game experience and a chance to reestablish himself after missing most of last season because of injury. He is not the only name in the mix, with Bodpegn Miller, Rashid Williams and Chris Lawson also pushing for those outside snaps, and Jedd Fisch is expected to let performance sort it out before making the call. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Have Found Its Final Piece As Pressure Builds
Washingtons search for its final roster spot for the 2026-27 season has led it overseas, where a Slovenian guard has been turning heads at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket tournament. The Huskies are looking to round out a group that still has room for one more addition, and the timing matters with other programs also monitoring the same rising backcourt prospect.
The appeal is obvious from Washingtons side: the player has been productive throughout the event and has shown the kind of all-around game that tends to travel well. But with Iowa and Rutgers also in the mix, this is the kind of recruitment that can move quickly, and the Huskies may have to wait out the rest of the tournament before the picture around his decision gets any clearer. [Read more 🡒]