Buffalo Bulls Men's Basketball Preview: Freshman guard Nikola Rakicevic

Added to the roster late in the summer, today's student-athlete might be the biggest combination of unknown and upside on Men's Basketball

The Basics

Number: 21
Year: Freshman
Position: Guard / Wing
Hometown: Smederevska Palanka, Serbia
Height and Weight: 6-5, 185

New Guy?

Yes

Before UB

Rakicevic comes to Buffalo with ample high-level experience, having played in the Serbian National Team program atat least the 2014 U17 FIBA World Championship and the 2013 U16 European Championship. In the latter, Serbia finished second, with Rakicevic scoring a team-high 19 points in the final against Spain.

In 2014 on a world stage, Rakicevic upped the ante, averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 rebounds over the tournament, including 19 points against the USA in the semifinal and 17 against Spain in the third-place game. Nikola was the leading Serb in both of those games, as well as in his team's first two group stage matchups against China and Egypt, and was named to the All-Tournament team following USA's victory over Australia, the lone player not from one of the top two countries to earn that distinction.

At the club level, Rakicevic plays for the junior team at KK Crvena Zvezda, an apparently historic club based in Belgrade.

Further Reading and Viewing:

Serbian SG Nikola Rakicevic joins Buffalo Men's Basketball

2015-16 Outlook

I really hope Rakicevic gets some time this year, and more than token minutes. Blake Hamilton and Willie Conner are more experienced at this level at the "wing" position, but Nikola literally has World Championship experience, and was one of the best players in the tournament, at that.

After Lamonte Bearden, Jarryn Skeete, and Rodell Wigginton I think Rakicevic has as much a chance as anyone else to work into next in line in the guard rotation.