BYU Basketball Season Review 10 of 10: Day 9

One of the team’s most unique players, Mihailo Boskovic is a 22-year-old freshman college basketball player.

The 6-foot-10 prospect from Uzice, Serbia is the tallest man in the rotation and has a smooth throw, which is a huge bonus for this BYU team. Bošković left his professional team KK Igokea in Serbia to move to BYU. Boskovic is listed as a junior and is expected to contribute immediately.

Boskovic’s style of play fits perfectly with how BYU wants to play stylistically this season.

“Stylistically aggressive, I just think what I’m used to in the NBA,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said on ESPN’s Big 12 Tip-Off Show. “It’s five-out basketball where we start going really fast, you know, playing at a great pace, with a lot of spacing and moving the basketball.”

Boscovich is a prototypical stretch big man who can stretch space, connect offense at the top of the key, and be a three-level threat in turnover situations. He can screen and jump to the 3-point line, catch a short shot and pass or score, and he’s athletic enough to finish at the rim.

Boskovic with his second three of the game. The big guy can pet him. pic.twitter.com/sPsCiOHATF

— Church Ball: BYU Hoops Pod (@churchballpod) October 10, 2024

What makes Boskovic so intriguing this season is that he can play as a four with Keba Keita and Fousseini Traore, or as a five without one of them on the court. He is a nightmare for opposing coaches because his shooting ability distracts them from the basket, freeing up lanes for BYU defenders to get downhill and attack.

“(Boskovic) plays extremely hard, knows how to play versatile,” Young said. “You know, I see him as a guy who can play multiple positions, can look different as a five, he’s athletic (and) protects the rim.”

So why is Boskovic only ninth on the list?

First of all, as anyone reading this knows, this cast is very talented. Secondly, Boskovic was a latecomer to the team and will be catching up with everyone who trained all summer. Thirdly, last season Bošković played for Igokea in the Bosnian First Division and ABA League. Combining his 2023-24 3-point shooting percentage with Igokea from those two leagues, he shot 16 of 55 from 3. That’s just 29% from 3, which is inefficient at best.

If Boskovic shoots over 36% from three and can easily fit in late, his value this season will be much higher than ninth. But given his late arrival and inconsistent shooting last year, someone had to take the ninth spot.