North Carolina, KU’s next hoops opponent, adds international standout to roster
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- UNC cleared Luka Bogavac for 2025-26 play after lengthy academic review.
- Bogavac debuted vs. Central Arkansas, scoring 10 points with five assists.
- Coaches expect Bogavac’s shooting and creation to boost UNC against Kansas.
North Carolina men’s basketball has added a high-scoring, highly regarded sharpshooter from Montenegro just a few days before the Tar Heels’ marquee matchup against Kansas.
Luka Bogavac, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound, 22-year-old junior guard, after a long wait was cleared Monday by UNC officials to play for the Tar Heels during the 2025-26 season. Final approval by UNC administration was granted shortly before tipoff of Monday’s 94-54 season-opening rout of Central Arkansas.
Bogavac scored 10 points and dished five assists while playing 20 minutes off the bench. He hit 3-of-9 shots, just 1-of-5 from 3, in his debut.
Bogavac, who will be available for Friday’s game against KU (6 p.m. Central, Dean E. Smith Center) was cleared to play in games by the NCAA on Oct. 22. He first arrived on campus two months ago. UNC officials have been examining his academic credentials since that time.
“We found out just right before the game,” UNC coach Hubert Davis told reporters Monday regarding Bogavac being cleared. “Just to see the smile and the reaction from Luka was something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. He’s someone obviously coming from Montenegro that has always since the first time that I talked to him had a burning desire to be a part of this team, this program, this university and this community. And to see him be able to run out of that tunnel with the uniform on and be able to check him in and see that smile — it’s something again that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Bogavac played in 55 games over the past two seasons in the Adriatic Basketball Association.
Known for his 3-point shooting, he had two or more 3-point baskets in 16 of 29 games played during the 2024-25 season.
He did not warm up with the rest of the Tar Heels team prior to tip Monday.
“He was taking a little catnap when we walked out,” UNC’s Seth Trimble told ESPN. “He was just resting his eyes. We thought it was that. I think he got woken up out of his sleep or something like that and told he was cleared.”
“He was lying on the couch,” guard Kyan Evans told ESPN. “Next thing you know, he has all his gear on in two minutes.”
Bogavac received a loud ovation upon entering as the game’s first substitute. He entered with 16:12 left in the first half.
According to Inside Carolina, “the NCAA determined and certified Bogavac to be a college junior based on his college and professional background in Europe. UNC then had to determine that Bogavac had the necessary hours of applicable completed college credit, and thus match the appropriate equivalency courses. Given the reliance on others to provide the transcripts, and a third party to process and certify them, this became a lengthy ordeal that proved much longer to complete than expected, per sources. UNC changed paths multiple times across the last five months to try to get it done.”
According to ESPN, recruiting rankings listed Bogavac among the top-10 incoming international players for 2025-26.
According to Inside Carolina, he averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season for SC Derby in the ABA. He hit 45.1% of his shots, including 39.9% from 3. He hit 87% of his free throws. He scored 19 points or more in eight of his final 15 ABA games, including a season-high 27 points in one game. He scored 14 points in UNC’s Blue-White scrimmage game in October in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“He’s a very impressive player,” Evans said. “That’s what he’s going to be able to do for us all year. He wasn’t even really preparing for this game, so I don’t think he was able to show what all he can do. He had a good performance for the circumstances. When you’re as good as he is, I think it’s easy to fit in.”
“He has a European playing style that you think about,” Trimble told ESPN. “He can really do it all. He’s a great creator for his teammates. We all know he’s a great jump shooter, so he has more than just that aspect to his game.”
According to Inside Carolina, several of Bogavac’s former teammates from his SC Derby club team are playing college basketball in the U.S. this season, including David Mirkovic (Illinois), Andrija Grbović (Arizona State) and Vladimir Sudar (Pepperdine). Illinois forwards Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic played for SC Derby and the ABA.
Last week, Illinois cleared Serbian guard Mihailo Petrovic to play this season.
In the opener, UNC freshman forward Caleb Wilson led the way with 22 points in 24 minutes. Evans scored 15 points with six rebounds and five assists. Center Henri Veesaar had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The KU-UNC game Friday will complete a home-and-home series between the blue bloods. KU defeated UNC 92-89 a year ago in Allen Fieldhouse. Including Bogavac, UNC has 10 newcomers on its roster. KU has nine scholarship newcomers on this year’s team.
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 7:30 AM.
