HAMMOND | Milos Kostic is a 6-foot-8, top-shelf basketball talent who enrolled at Bishop Noll recently as a freshman. The transplant from Serbia has been ranked No. 1 among freshmen in Indiana by some recruiting publications. There is one thing that Kostic is not.
"He is not an exchange student," Noll coach Drew Trost said. "We'll have Milos for the next four years."
Kostic lives on the south side of Chicago with his brother. In just a month of attending the north Hammond parochial school, Notre Dame, Purdue and Northwestern have all visited Noll's campus to watch Kostic play. He joins a talented Warriors team that finished 13-9 last season.
He is the second Serbian national to join a Greater South Shore Conference school during this past summer. Wheeler had 6-foot-8 Serbian forward Aleksa Kojcinovic join its school recently.
Kostic is working hard to learn the English language and connect with his teammates.
"He is a phenomenal passer," Trost said. "And that doesn't mean he can't shoot because he can. But he'll look for cutters first, and he'll get them the ball most of the time. He can score inside and he can score outside. The upside for this kid is unbelievable."
The Warriors won the GSSC tournament, but lost by six points to Wheeler in a sectional opener. Kostic should help bridge any gap, if there is one.
"Milos is still growing into his body," Trost said. "He is very skilled, and he'll make an immediate impact for us."
BOYS BASKETBALL
Serbian stars to play at PUC
Basketball Club Partizan from Belgrade, Serbia will play an exhibition game at 7 p.m. Sunday at Purdue Calumet. Headlining the Serbian squad is 7-foot teen sensation Jan Vesely and 7-6 center Slavko Vranjes.
Partizan players are scheduled to practice at PUC Friday and Saturday. Contact the Purdue Calumet Athletic Department at (219) 989-8082 for more information.
