USC’s Nikola Vucevic opts to enter the NBA 2011 draft
University of Southern California’s (USC) junior forward, Nikola Vucevic, has opted to enter in the NBA 2011 draft and has signed with agent Rade Filipovich of Bill
Duffy’s BDA Sports Management on Friday.
Forgoing his senior season, the 20-year-old Vucevic, left his current team the USC Trojans shattered. His decision to leave early has suddenly created a cloud of uncertainty among
the Trojans. It’s the second year in a row that Trojan has lost four of its top six players and 70% of the scoring during sanctions.
Trojans’ Coach Kevin O’Neill, while flanking, Vucevic’s decision, said, “I support, absolutely, what Nik is doing. I would’ve supported it if he stayed, I would’ve
supported it if he [went], and I do support big-time that he’s making a 100 percent commitment to doing it, because I don’t think you can do anything like the NBA halfway.”
Vucevic, while announcing his affiliation with agent Rade Filipovich of Bill Duffy’s BDA Sports Management to enter in NBA 2011 draft a season early, said, “I just
felt like this was the right time for me to leave. I think I showed a lot of things that I can do at this level. I made improvements each year, and I think that this year I showed what I can do. I’m ready as a person and as a player. I’m mature enough and
it was just the perfect opportunity for me.”
Vucevic also stated he will continue his studies and prepare to take the semester’s classes this summer till the completion of graduation.
In the last season Vucevic was named in the All-Pac-10 First Team, while averaging 17.1 points with 10.3 rebounds per game for the Trojans. He led them into the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament 2011. Though the USC Trojans were defeated by the Virginia Commonwealth in the first round
but Vucevic’s performance was acclaimed by many when he contributed 11 points and 14 rebounds to the score.
The big market of NBA is persistently exploring new blood for their league and the 6-foot-10 Vucevic took a right decision when he chose a good and experienced agent
for his future prospect.
Vucevic has been assured of a high draft pick by his agent Filipovich, who has worked with some renowned players like the Golden State Warriors’ Andris Biedrins, Toronto
Raptors’ Linas Kleiza, Milwaukee Bucks’ Brandon Jennings and the Indiana Pacers’ Darren Collison.
Vucevic and his former Coach Kevin O’Neill have had a very good repertoire over the years. When asked about player’s future, O’Neill admitted that Nikola has a great
chance to make it big in NBA. Vucevic is one of the most enigmatic guards in the college ranks. His strength as a guard though, will be tested against NBA’s power forwards and centers. On the offensive end, Vucevic is a prolific three-point shooter and can
dominate the court with his dribbling prowess and ball play.