Jard Schuit

Matija Lukić erupted for 38 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, and 3 BLK in the NextGen EuroLeague qualifier final in Rijeka, earning tournament MVP honors despite Pablo Laso Academy’s narrow loss to Zentro Madrid. The 17-year-old, 6’9” Serbian wing shot 5-of-9 from three, showcasing an impressive offensive repertoire: confidently punishing unders, flowing into movement threes with polished footwork, hitting contested off-the-dribble jumpers, manipulating ball screens to create for himself and others, and patiently exploiting mismatches in the post. Already a U16 EuroBasket gold medalist, U17 World Cup silver medalist, and BWB Next Up MVP, Lukić is assembling an impressive international résumé. His combination of positional size, creation ability, and defensive versatility makes him one of Europe’s most intriguing long-term prospects in the 2009-born generation.