Vucevic starring in FIBA U20 European Championships

After a nightmarish offseason, good news regarding USC basketball can be difficult to find. So when there is positive news surrounding the program, it certainly creates a fair amount of excitement among all members of the Trojan fanbase.

During this summer’s annual FIBA Europe Under-20 Championships, rising sophomore forward Nikola Vucevic, who is playing for the Montenegro national team, has been one of the tournament’s top performers. In five games, he has posted some solid numbers, averaging 16.0 points per game, 11.0 rebounds per game, and 2.4 blocks per game. Out of the sixteen participant teams, Vucevic ranks 8th overall in points, 1st overall in two point field goals, 1st overall in defensive rebounds, and 1st overall in block shots. He has also posted four double-doubles in five games.

His strong performance has led Montenegro to a 3-2 mark in the tournament so far, and just a few points shy of an undefeated record. In the team’s two losses to Lithuania and Croatia, Montenegro’s average margin of defeat was just three points – a clear indicator that Vucevic’s bunch has performed well even in their losses.

Even with the solid numbers, it is Vucevic’s consistency that has made this tournament such a rousing success for the sophomore to be. In all five games, he has scored in double figures each time and only once did he fail to grab at least ten rebounds.

At 6’10″, new coach Kevin O’Neill will be counting on Vucevic to be just as good for the Trojans this winter, as the team looks to replace starting center and first round draft pick Taj Gibson, who averaged 14.3 points and 9 rebounds a year ago. However, with Vucevic teaming up with North Carolina transfer and North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake standout Alex Stepheson, the Trojans could have a formidable front line next year.

In an offseason in which seemingly every player left, it’s good to see that the Trojans might in fact be getting some production from some of their returning players.