By ADAM ZAGORIA & ZACH SMART
Florida State on Friday picked up a commitment from 7-foot-2 Class of 2019 Monvterde Academy (FL) star Balsa Koprivica.
Baylor and Gonzaga were also in the mix.
Koprivica’s advanced skill set in putting the ball on the floor, scoring at all three levels, dishing and running the floor fluidly in Montverde’s breakneck attack is what makes him such a unique national prospect, as ZAGSBLOG profiled in this story from January.
Koprivica’s back-to-the-bucket game, at which he’s improved incrementally this past season, is equally noteworthy. Many have likened the Class of 2019 Koprivica’s upside to bigs of Pau Gasol and Kristaps Porzingis‘ fabric.
“Balsa is now 7-2 and getting better everyday,” legendary Montverde coach Kevin Boyle said recently. “He’s practicing at Montverde with big man development coach Joe Katuka, a 6-foot-10 former George Washington player, 3-4 hours each day. He has the potential to help or switch on guards better than any 7-footer in the country. He’s developing a great pick and pop jumper and the ability to post up, catch, face, and hit the 10-footer like the great Jack Sikma. He has lottery potential.”
Montverde, which has churned out professionals such as Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell under Boyle, buried 11 3-pointers during its 76-58 title game victory over Vernon Carey Jr. and University School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in the GEICO Nationals at Christ The King High School.
Koprivica joins shooting guard Patrick Williams and small forward Zimile Nwokeji in FSU’s 2019 class.
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