CBB insider calls UCLA the 'most Cronin-esque team' in years

· Yahoo Sports

The college basketball season will be here before we know it. If you weren’t excited enough for a new-look UCLA Bruins team for the 2026-2027, then here’s some fuel for your fire.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein visited UCLA’s practice on Thursday and left feeling impressed by three new Bruin additions. Rothstein gave Nikola Kusturica, Jaylen Petty and Filip Jovic some recognition, noting that all three could be difference-makers for Mick Cronin’s team.

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Kusturica comes to UCLA as a 17-year old Serbian who is adjusting to both life in America and college basketball. Petty and Jovic both came to UCLA from the transfer portal, with Petty joining the Bruins after one season with Texas Tech while Jovic played one season with Auburn before heading west.

“The Bruins are the most Cronin-esque team we’ve seen in a number of years here in Los Angeles,” Rothstein said. “The buzz surrounding international prospect Nikola Kusturica is warranted. The floor game is top-tier and the passing ability is next level.”We’ll see how the youngster looks against the Big Ten Conference but Kusturica could become UCLA’s star over the next two years. Rothstein also had plenty of good things to say about Petty and Jovic.

“Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty could be pound-for-pound, inch-for-inch, the best shooter that UCLA has had in the Mick Cronin era,” Rothstein said. “The UCLA staff is viewing Jovic as a sixth potential starter due to his physicality and jumping ability inside.”

Cronin took the offseason to put a roster around him that’s capable of playing his style of basketball. We’ll see if it pays off for the Bruins this season.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: CBB insider calls UCLA the 'most Cronin-esque team' in years

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