A versatile 6-foot-9 wing who nearly went to Kansas last year is now, officially, a member of San Diego State’s basketball team.
SDSU learned Friday that Croatia’s Luka Skoric, a prized piece in the offseason roster reconstruction, received NCAA clearance after spending five years as a pro, most recently with powerhouse KK Cibona in Zagreb. He considered coming to the United States last year, with Kansas among those with the most interest, before returning to Europe for another season.
SDSU’s David Torresani and Luca Vincini were previously cleared as the NCAA cracks down on the influx of seasoned European pros into the college game. The 21-year-old Torresani was granted three years of eligibility; Vincini and Skoric, both 23, each got one.
“We wouldn’t have taken these guys unless we thought they would be eligible to play,” Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher said. “The NCAA is moving the bar a little bit, which I can understand. But it’s good we got them all cleared.”
Skoric averaged 6.2 points in 14.9 minutes per game for Cibona last season, but that’s deceiving on one of Europe’s most respected clubs that had a starting lineup with an average age of 30. The most pertinent stat was that he shot 38.8% from 3-point range at 6-foot-9, making him the quintessential “stretch 4” and a matchup nightmare at the college level.
Skoric can also play the 3 given his mobility and ball-handling, allowing Dutcher to utilize him alongside 4-man Tae Simmons and beefy center Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry.
“He’s played high-level basketball, he shoots it really well, he’s got length and athleticism, experience, all the things you’re seeking in a player,” Dutcher said. “Now we have to get him healthy.”
Skoric is recovering from a groin injury that has sidelined him for going on three weeks. He’s nearing a return to the practice floor, but Dutcher doesn’t expect him to feature in the exhibition opener next Friday night at Arizona.
“There’s a sense of urgency because we play exhibition games against really good teams, but at the end of the day, the season is what counts,” said Dutcher, whose team hosts USC in an exhibition on Oct. 23. “We want to make sure we don’t rush him back for an exhibition game.
“We want to make sure he’s healthy when we start play in November and that we catch him up to all he’s missed, because he didn’t get (NCAA clearance to practice in) the summer, either. He’s got a lot of catch-up to do, but he has the talent and experience to do that.”
Tip times set
• The Bill Walton Classic at Pechanga Arena against Colorado on Nov. 7 will tip off at 12:30 p.m. and air on USA Network. Tickets for the game range from $78 to $185, including fees, and are available through Axs.com (not TicketMaster, which services SDSU home games). The website is offering pre-paid parking for $47.90.
• SDSU’s Nov. 15 game against New Mexico State at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, called the Compete 4 Cause Classic, will tip off at 1 p.m. Tickets are also available only at Axs.com and range from $34 to $91. Parking starts at $25.
