(2025) - G Aleksa Ristic to Indiana

[94Bulldog]

39 minutes ago, kottke said:

Do you know which one?

Guessing Leal

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

SIAP.  He intends to play for the Serbian National Team in July but then immediately join our team and will be included on the Puerto Rico trip.  Raby described him as a development player vs. a project player with an existing skill set better than Harun Zrno.   He is expected to play next season but may not log major minutes.  Raby used Priller as an example of a project player so that should be all you need to know regarding Raby's use of development vs project. 

[Home Jersey]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

SIAP.  He intends to play for the Serbian National Team in July but then immediately join our team and will be included on the Puerto Rico trip.  Raby described him as a development player vs. a project player with an existing skill set better than Harun Zrno.   He is expected to play next season but may not log major minutes.  Raby used Priller as an example of a project player so that should be all you need to know regarding Raby's use of development vs project. 

Thanks for sharing. I find it odd to use Priller as an example. Ritisc playing international ball for Serbia whereas if memory serves, we beat out Incarnate Word for Priller. Maybe he won’t be a big rotation player, but Priller seriously lacked talent, and I don’t think that’s the situation here

[FortWayneHoosier]

8 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Thanks for sharing. I find it odd to use Priller as an example. Ritisc playing international ball for Serbia whereas if memory serves, we beat out Incarnate Word for Priller. Maybe he won’t be a big rotation player, but Priller seriously lacked talent, and I don’t think that’s the situation here

Agreed, there is not a single world where Priller was ever a "project player"

[ap2345]

13 hours ago, kottke said:

Do you know which one?

Leal never had a real chance 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

IMO Raby's use of 'project' implied it would take a miracle for the player to become a legitimate contributor.

[Pagoda]

Sheesh Rabby is killing my buzz!

[Home Jersey]

51 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

Sheesh Rabby is killing my buzz!

Yeah, this is where I find Rabby sort of annoying. Perhaps someone on the staff told him it’s unlikely Ritisc will contribute this year, but I sort of doubt it and don’t see why he’d state that publicly. It’s sort of impossible to say that with any certainty right now. What if some of the guards currently thought to be above him on the depth chart don’t pan out and it’s obvious early on? Then it’s next man up and maybe he takes advantage of the opportunity. Guess the point I’m making is that it’s way too early to say who will or won’t contribute next year. Maybe Rabby’s speculation is more informed than anonymous posters, but it’s still speculation. And in terms of what we know for a fact, there’s next to nothing in common between Priller and Ritisc that makes them remotely comparable as “projects.” 

[HoosierHoopster]

34 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Yeah, this is where I find Rabby sort of annoying. Perhaps someone on the staff told him it’s unlikely Ritisc will contribute this year, but I sort of doubt it and don’t see why he’d state that publicly. It’s sort of impossible to say that with any certainty right now. What if some of the guards currently thought to be above him on the depth chart don’t pan out and it’s obvious early on? Then it’s next man up and maybe he takes advantage of the opportunity. Guess the point I’m making is that it’s way too early to say who will or won’t contribute next year. Maybe Rabby’s speculation is more informed than anonymous posters, but it’s still speculation. And in terms of what we know for a fact, there’s next to nothing in common between Priller and Ritisc that makes them remotely comparable as “projects.” 

I had the same reaction, and this 'kid' is an experienced Euro player playing on the top Serbian team with good minutes and numbers, and from all accounts/appearances has the size and strength/build to play in the B1G. Looked like speculation to me,  not really a good look. (fwiw he wasn't comparing Priller as a project, that was a distinction, but still)

[HoosierHoopster]

"Developmental player?"

"The 6-foot-4 Ristic is averaging 13.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 51.3% shooting including 39.6% from three, and 86% at the stripe in the Basketball League of Serbia, Jovic reports.  He plays for KK Dynamic in the top-level league in Serbia.

Ristic could play lead guard or off the ball for Indiana.  Multiple sources tell TDH Ristic is joining the Indiana team for the 2025-26 season.

The 19-year-old Ristic will play for Serbia’s U20 team this summer.  He shot over 42% from three with that team last summer while posting 9.4 points, 2.4 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game."

[rayl456]

He impressed me with his 3pt shooting in the one video that I viewed.  But the overall impression I had was that the defense being played by the opponent was fairly weak.  But what do I know as your basic fan.  JMHO.  LOL.  :)

[monskisprodigy]

How does the top Serbian League translate skill wise when comparing to College basketball? MAC team, NAIA, D2?

[HoosierHoopster]

12 minutes ago, monskisprodigy said:

How does the top Serbian League translate skill wise when comparing to College basketball? MAC team, NAIA, D2?

It's pro ball. NAIA? NBA players who came out of the Serbian league include Jokic, Stojakovic, Divac, Bogdanovic, among others. And skill wise? Euro players in general are ahead of DI college players. The rules and level of athleticism are different, but the skill? Plenty of skill in the Serbian league.

[Stuhoo]

20 minutes ago, monskisprodigy said:

How does the top Serbian League translate skill wise when comparing to College basketball? MAC team, NAIA, D2?

Ristic does not play in the best league in Serbia - that is the eight team 'Super League. He plays for a .500 team in the 16 team 'First League'. Quite good for a 19 year old. Buncha grown-@$$ men in that league.

Per league literature: "...the top 8 teams in First League are promoted to Super League with five Serbian teams from the ABA League. Two lowest-placed teams, positioned 15th and 16th in the First League, are relegated to a lower-tier league – Second Basketball League of Serbia."

Of note: Serbia is indeed a basketball-crazy country and has produced some all-time great players, but it is also a country of only 6.6 million people - about 300,000 less people than the State of Indiana.

[CSP]

17 minutes ago, monskisprodigy said:

How does the top Serbian League translate skill wise when comparing to College basketball? MAC team, NAIA, D2?

Dwarfs all of these 

[HoosierHoopster]

3 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Ristic does not play in the best league in Serbia - that is the eight team 'Super League. He plays for a .500 team in the 16 team 'First League'. Pretty good for a 19 year old.

Per league literature: "...the top 8 teams in First League are promoted to Super League with five Serbian teams from the ABA League. Two lowest-placed teams, positioned 15th and 16th in the First League, are relegated to a lower-tier league – Second Basketball League of Serbia."

Of note: Serbia is indeed a basketball-crazy country and has produced some all-time great players, but it is also a country of only 6.6 million people - about 300,000 less people that the State of Indiana.

Hmm. The question was the Serbian league. 

"Ristic played for the top league in Serbia, the KLS, and was on the team BC Dynamic. He has been playing professional basketball for three years, his agent tells Peegs.com."

Structure: The KLS has two stages: the First League (in which 16 teams participate) and the SuperLeague (in which 8 teams participate).

As reported about the leagues, the SuperLeague is not a separate league, it's a separate stage.

Maybe also worth pointing out: 

"FIBA Ranking: Serbia is currently ranked fifth in the FIBA World Rankings. "

[monskisprodigy]

13 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

It's pro ball. NAIA? NBA players who came out of the Serbian league include Jokic, Stojakovic, Divac, Bogdanovic, among others. And skill wise? Euro players in general are ahead of DI college players. The rules and level of athleticism are different, but the skill? Plenty of skill in the Serbian league.

I was listing different levels...somewhat in Jest, and somewhat because I know nothing about pro ball in Serbia, the league he is in, etc...

Some highlights below from league play.  

 

[HoosierHoopster]

4 minutes ago, monskisprodigy said:

I was listing different levels...somewhat in Jest, and somewhat because I know nothing about pro ball in Serbia, the league he is in, etc...

Some highlights below from league play.  

 

Can only take so much from highlight reels of course but from my amateur eye, looks like pretty good floor vision / set ups, good overall looking stroke, decent step back / turnaround jumper, decent burst, with development needed on handle.

[Stuhoo]

11 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Can only take so much from highlight reels of course but from my amateur eye, looks like pretty good floor vision / set ups, good overall looking stroke, decent step back / turnaround jumper, decent burst, with development needed on handle.

Though he was a 2/3, but from this video it looks like he was playing point guard the majority of the time. I really like that. Also seems to be playing against primarily zones, which tends to limit driving opportunities and ramp up distance shooting opportunities.

[ebridges24]

21 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Don’t hate it at all if Leal and Goode are looking less than likely.  I know they say the 7 footer isn’t a reclass candidate but you have to wonder. Hes at Purdue today and they have big men for days. 

which big man Wayne?