Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - Still Searching? Could Kansas Jayhawks Land Croatian Wing Luka Skoric to Bolster Bill Self's Roster?

Episode Date: July 17, 2025

Kansas Jayhawks Basketball eyes international talent. Could 6'9" Croatian wing Luca Skoric be the missing piece for Bill Self's squad?Host Derek Johnson analyzes Skoric's potential fit with the Jayhawks, breaking down his professional experience in Croatia and the Adriatic League. The discussion covers Skoric's shooting ability, athleticism, and how he might compete for minutes against current KU wings. Johnson also dives into the newly released EA Sports College Football 26 game, revealing top-rated Jayhawks players and debating their rankings.Tune in for expert insights on KU's recruiting strategy and a sneak peek at virtual Jayhawks football stars.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Sounds like Kansas might have some real interest in Luka Skorich, an international wing who could bring some pop at 6'9 for KU will break down what it means, what's going on and how he would fit in with KU on today's episode of Locked on Jayhawks. You are locked on Jayhawks your daily podcast on the Kansas Jayhawks part of the locked on podcast network your team every day. What is going on Derek Johnson here this is locked on Jayhawks thanks for making it your first listen every day. Thank you everydayers catching each and every episode of the show we are free and available anywhere you get your podcasts you can also find us on YouTube please like and subscribe to the show we are free and available anywhere you get your podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube, please like and subscribe to the show when you get that subscribers up to 4k

for the start of football season. Let's do it. Let's make that the goal. Lucas Scorich is an interesting international player, somebody who could maybe bring some size and versatility another wing on a roster that doesn't have a ton of wings for KU and sounds like there's some real interest there at least. It's being reported that way online. So we'll get to all that. He's scouting report potential fit with KU all that

and more on today's episode of the show. Let's start with what is the news here on Luca Scorich. So this might be one if you remember over the course of the offseason, we talked about this, it feels like months ago at this point in time, there's a tweet from Jake Lieberman who covers kind of college basketball, high school recruiting, that sort of thing. And he tweeted out, again, this was a little bit ago, a pair of six foot nine, high major Croatian prospects,

Luka Skoric and Ivan Bogdanovich, top the available college pool programs, heavily involved their Kansas, Cincinnati, Yukon, St. John's and Virginia Tech. And so that was a while ago. And we talked about that a little bit and we broke down some of about that a little bit. And we broke down some of their games a little bit more. But then it

kind of went quiet, then things kind of, you know, cooled down on all fronts. And there wasn't anything then all of a sudden this happened from our mom, Jovich about a week ago, something like that. And our mom Jovich is does good like scouting work on the international scene. Really good stuff. They're highly recommend giving him a follow on social media. And he tweeted that 6'9 wing Lucas Scorich is exploring the NCAA route according to a source.

He averaged 5.6 points per game in the ABA this past season at 21 years old while shooting 42% from three. He's heard from a few high majors, including Kansas, Pitt, and West Virginia. And so that being a little bit closer was like, Pitt, and West Virginia. And so that being a little bit closer was like, okay, that makes things interesting. Now, you see those three schools that are on there. And, you know, this goes back in line with the idea when you see some of these lists that pop up on social media, you never know exactly what is what. Did Kansas reach out to him,

you know, two months ago? And so, yes, they did reach out to them. And at one point, maybe had interest and maybe they're not as interested anymore because they got Cole Rosario and, you know, maybe they just don't have the funding to make it work out otherwise. Are they still reaching out? Are they still making it happen? And the same goes for those other schools of Pitt in West Virginia, right? Like, is one further along than the others is one they reached out in the past, but they're not

interested in more did one just reach out just to gauge interest, but isn't really all that interested themselves. It's difficult to tell where exactly everything is on the list there. But then we get this tweet, which was on Wednesday, again, coming from Jake Lieberman. Lucas Scorich is down the line with Pittsburgh, but is reconsidering according to a source, Kansas, West Virginia, amongst others are involved game changing prospect. So that becomes very interesting there that you're talking about

Scorich. Now, again, you hear Kansas mentioned in this again, you see them involved with Pittsburgh and West Virginia seems like those are the competition. Maybe the idea here would be that West Virginia would be the one I don't know to beat if they keep coming up again. He said Pittsburgh was kind of further along. But the fact you get West Virginia in there again, when he's saying he's reconsidering, I don't know, maybe that's the one or maybe he's reconsidering because of Kansas possibly, right. But you do keep getting the name brought up. And even if it is something where it's like, okay, this isn't something that's actually going to happen. But they're just being brought up to raise the bidding, or they again, were interested in the past, but not anymore. But again, it sounds better on the list to have them there. That is interesting. But certainly, we do know that Kansas has two scholarships open now right after Noah Shelby transferred away. Kansas had a scholarship open to begin with. Now they have to, they don't have to use them 12 scholarship players should be enough to get you

through the season barring, you know, catastrophic mass numbers of injury, but they have the opportunity. The big question kind of just becomes for Kansas, like, do you have the money? Do you have the funds to make it happen? Like how much nil how much rev share do you have left to make something like this happen? And then the question becomes like, okay, what is Lucas Scorch getting to play overseas? What is he getting to play, you know, in the Croatian league, right? Like, are you making six figures as a 21 year old? Are you making 80,000? Because if that's the case,

if you're, you know, not, if you're making 100,000, you're making 70,000. You know, I don't know that Kansas can offer a million, but could they offer two, 300,000, you know, double or triple your salary? Maybe that's something that is possible. So it does become interesting and where exactly Kansas is kind of on this list. Now who is Scorich? He's a six foot nine. He is, I guess now a 22 year old who was born February 1st, 2003.

So essentially would be the age of like a senior in college. And he started playing professionally at 19 years old for GKK subank, which is part of the A one league and the A one league is the Croatian top league, I guess. And so the Croatian league, it's, again, you're playing professionally, you're playing against other adults. But it's not quite the best league in the world either. Now, what's interesting about, I guess, playing in the Croatian League is you also get to play games in like the Adriatic

League, I believe. So like, and I don't know if this is because I don't know if the A1 League is like the Junior League or how it works. But the Adriatic League is the one that is like a combination of not just Croatia, but a lot of the Baltic regions, and that becomes a much better league, the Adriatic League, than the Croatian League specifically. Now in this Croatian League, his first year with GKK Sabanc, he plays 24 minutes per game,

8.2 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals 0.4 blocks on 42% from the field, 30% from three, and 79% of the foul line. But that was in the 22 to 23 season. So it's like, how much can we take from that? Then the 2023 to 2024 season again with GKK Sabanc. He plays in the Croatian League only 27 games played, 27 minutes per game, 13.3 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game

with 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks on 55% from the field, 47 from three and 79% at the foul line. So pretty impressive there. But again, I think the A1 league, I think that's the top league in Croatia. I just think that's your only playing in Croatia and not against the rest of the countries. So then he moves up, I guess he gets, I don't know,

bought or promoted, transferred, or whatever you want to call it with international basketball, to KK Sabona, which is a higher up team, I guess you would say a bigger team, a better team in the league, and they're not just playing in the A one league, the Croatian league, they're also playing in Liga ABA, the Adriatic League, which is the better league, right? I hope this is making sense and not sounding like words, words out

anyway. In the Croatian only games, he plays 35 games, he starts 11 with 17 minutes per game, five and a half points per game 45% from the floor only 25% from three 74% at the foul line 2.9 rebounds per game 1.2 assists per game point seven steals point two blocks per game 2.7 fouls per game that's a lot for a wing in 17 minutes per game. But in the games against the better competition against the Adriatic League, he plays 22 games, six starts 14 minutes per game he five and a point four points per

game 47% from the field 40% from 393% at the foul line. Again, a bit more limited volume there, but two rebounds per game one assist and total it all up between the two leagues between playing in Croatia and playing in the Adriatic League 57 games played. So you're talking about somebody who, you know, would would be well seasoned and whether coming in the college game, he'd be like, Oh, this is a breeze. We only have played 3540 games. But 5.4 points per game overall on 46% from the field, 30% from three and 80% at the foul line.

So I think an interesting player here. And obviously he's a little bit older. He's obviously somebody who has shown flashes of shooting the basketball. It's been a little bit inconsistent. Again, you go back to when he was 19 years old when he was playing in the Croatian League for GKK Sabanc, you're looking at closer to 30% from three on three and a half attempts per game. Then you go back to the 2023 to 2024 season and choose 47% from three on 3.2 attempts per game. And then you look at

this season, where in the Croatian League, he only shoots twenty five percent from three. But in the Adriatic League, he shoots forty percent from three. That becomes maybe the most interesting skill for me about what is he going to bring to the table? Right. Because if he's a good three point shooter, if Kansas were to bring him on, like he's probably playing a role as a six foot nine wing who can shoot the three well, but if he's not, then it's like, OK, maybe that role becomes a little bit more difficult to find with

Bill Self in Kansas. So I want to get into a little bit on what his highlights show and how exactly he would fit in with KU. This is Locked on Jayhawks. Today's episode of the show is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Summer sports are in full swing and whether you're all about baseball under the lights, golf on the green or high stakes soccer action, FanDuel is the best way to make every game even more exciting. You're already following the action.

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adds to the entertainment if you're new to fan duel new customers can bet just $5 and get $150 and bonus bets if your first bet wins. Open the FanDuel app today or visit fan duel.com to get started today. Thanks for joining us on this episode of Locked on Jayhawks. You can find a show anywhere you podcast including on our YouTube page. And don't forget to make Locked on College football or Locked on College basketball your second listen every day. Okay, so what does Lucas Scorch bring to the table went over some of his stats there and I think what you end up seeing from some of his stats there. And I think what you end

up seeing from some of those stats is a guy who again, inconsistent three point shooter, but does have that potential in him has potential to be a solid rebounder has good size at at six foot nine, you know, decent assist numbers for for kind of being a three, four type of player, and obviously a very good free throw shooter as well as what the stats show you in in watching some of the highlights looks like he can spot up and shoot on the spot up pretty well at times shows a bit of a like a low dip in

his release which maybe that can hamper him getting off shots in other ways like if you have a slower release you you tend to be more of a spot-up shooter whereas like the guys who are working off ball screens who are getting threes off in a myriad of ways tend to have quicker releases for the most part. So maybe that limits you a little bit, at least in a first year with Kansas, but he can make them contested at times.

He can make them a bit further back. So he does have some extra range there. And he can also work off the dribble a little bit to attack a close up or close out, excuse me, on a spot up too. So, you know, if somebody tries to chase him off the three point line, like he knows bit to attack a close up or close out excuse me on a spot up to so you know if somebody tries to chase him off the three point line like he knows how to attack off of that and drive all the way to the rim. Nice post game

actually a nice post game off a pivot foot like it's almost like you would think the stereotype of like international European basketball players that like oh they're going to be you know really well drilled they're going to have good footwork good post moves like good work off the pivot foot, stuff like that. And he kind of shows that he shows good ballfakes, good shakes, good turns. I think he has a good idea of where to be off the ball, and knows when to cut knows where to cut and is ready

to receive on the cut. So he's a good offball player, which I think if you're coming to a school, like if kids were to bring them on, he's going to be a role player, you're gonna have to be able to play without the ball. I think he shows the ability between the school, like if if kids were to bring him on, he's going to be a role player. You're going to have to be able to play without the ball. I think he shows the ability between the shooting and the cutting to be able to do both of those things. I wouldn't call him the biggest vertical leaper. Like, I don't think he's a plus athlete leaping wise,

but he doesn't move well in transition, right. And if you're playing him at the four, he will move well compared to other like power forwards up and down. I think more of like the the Jalen Wilson style in terms of being able to like move like Jalen was a good athlete in terms of running up and down the floor. He could grab and go. He could work in transition. But Jalen was not a good vertical athlete, if that makes sense. And I think that type of I'm not saying he is Jalen Wilson or but just in terms of that style of athleticism, right. And you did have a few dunk highlights on there.

So it is a capability, just not something that I call a strength necessarily. And definitely in that same vein, someone who can grab and go in transition like Jalen could, like he is somebody who will grab a rebound and he'll be able to go in transition or, you know, give it off to somebody and then sprint down the court and maybe get an easy bucket because of it. I mentioned some of the passing numbers, the assist numbers, like he's he's been a guy who's, you know, averaging over assist and in the season where he played 27 minutes per game, almost two assists per game. He's he's not Magic Johnson out there. He's not to one Harris as a passer, but the ball definitely won't stick with him. He'll find the open man, which is kind of a nice plus skill

that he has. And so I think you look at the possible fit with KU, like what he would add to the table. Obviously, adding another wing. Kansas doesn't have a ton of wings, true wings on this roster, right? It's like Smith Calderon, Trey White, and that's it. Like you're going to get guards playing the three

where they're basically like a wing. Jaden Dawson and Cole Rosario are going to be used like wings. But both those guys are, you know, more in the traditional sense, like shooting guards that are going to play the three and that's fine in modern basketball. It's not like a huge deal. But it'd be nice to have different options and flexibility depending on who you're guarding depending on your matchup and depending on what

works best for you as a specific team, it would give you more length, it would give you more transition play he fits into both those things, you know, adding positional length and stuff, I think you would add more rebounding to the team. So I went and looked, he had a 4.8% offensive rebound rate. What does that mean? I'm glad you asked. That would have been the best of KU non big men last season. So the only players on Kansas last season that had better than a 4.8% offense rebound rate, 100, Dickinson, KJ Adams and Flory Badoonga all big men,

right? And it's not necessarily congruent to say his offensive rebound rate is the same as the guys at Kansas because can't explain in the big 12. And I don't know, like, what does the level of competition compared to the Croatian league probably worse than the big 12? Maybe the Adriatic League is on par or better than the Big 12. I don't know, right? 15 and a half percent defensive rebound rate, though, form that would have been third best on KU last year only behind 100 Dickinson and

Florida, and those are centers again, Scorch is more of a three four type forward wing type. So good rebounder, he would also add shooting potential. Like I said, it's streaky, it's inconsistent, kind of similar to Cole Rosario. But that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have because then you could basically say, Hey, Cole Rosario, launch up a couple threes. Okay, you're not feeling today. Scorch, you come in. Okay, you hit a couple threes.

You stay in a little longer or Scorch. You come in today. Oh, you didn't hear your threes. Okay, Rosario's turn. Oh, you hit your threes. You're staying in a little bit longer, right? Maybe you can kind of mix and match it that way in a little bit. Now, what do you wouldn't add necessarily.

I don't think he'd certainly be a rotation guy. I think if you were to come in, especially by coming in late, you would view him in the same lens of like Cole Rosario and Samiz Calderon and some of these guys who are competing for are they going to be in the rotation or are they not? Are they going to play, you know, 1520 minutes per game? Are they going to play spot minutes? Right kind of becomes difficult. I also do have questions like what is the level of defense? or are they not? Are they going to play, you know, 1520 minutes per game? Are they going to play spot minutes, right? Kind

of becomes difficult. I also do have questions like what is the level of defense? You don't really pick that up from the highlights. And I'm not saying he can't do it, or he's not a good one. I just have no idea to be completely honest, like, I don't know. And just in general, like, what is the jump in competition for him? Is there a jump in competition? How does that affect things? Now I do think it helps that, you know, he is 22 years old. So like he would be a more mature, experienced

basketball player who's played a lot of basketball games at professional level, like that probably helps. But yeah, what is the level of jump in competition? So I do think if kids were to add Lucas Scorich, he'd be competing with Smith Calderon, first of all, for who is your top kind of wing off the bench. And I think in the same way I view Calderon is a three four. That's the same way I view Luke Scorch. He'd be a three four. So that'd be a direct competition and a very interesting one because Calderon is your incredible athlete. Scorch is maybe more of your your feel type of player. Right.

And then if you can beat out Calderon or if Calderon beats out you, whichever guy wins out on that, it's kind of a competition for who is the eighth man between that player Rosario and tiller. So that's kind of where you're looking at with the possible role. Now, if he does come in and he's a 40% three point shooter, he's probably for sure in the rotation at that point in time. So I think the ceiling there would be he's a rotation guy who's having a positive impact the floors he's playing spot minutes, right?

Now I don't know what it means eligibility wise that he is 22 years old would he come in and be deemed a senior would he come in and be deemed a junior because if you're bringing somebody on who would be deemed a senior and it's like oh I think they'll be in the rotation but I'm not a hundred percent sure it's like okay wouldn't it be nicer to have somebody who if they are going to be a fringe rotation player they have multiple years, so that you can

at least be like, okay, but we're developing him this year for the next possible season, I think he'd have a couple years left to play. I think he'd probably be deemed a junior because they do allow that gap year. And I thought Paul and Bo was going to be deemed at least the sophomore and he was deemed a freshman. So who knows? I think part of it too is, have you been getting paid professionally? And that kind of matters into all of it too. But I think overall, this is still a

take. And it's like, like, we're at a point, you see, K us to open scholarships. If you can afford it, that's always the big, you know, but right, if you can afford it, why not, you have to open scholarships, it adds more competition, it gives you more depth, it gives you the potential for more shooting. But if it's going to cause headaches to move stuff around, if it's not within the budget, then I get it. And I think it'd be cool that he is a very different player than Calderon

to give you kind of different backup wing looks if you kind of need it in a certain situation. And I do think there is some potential there for this kid to be a real player maybe in his second year in college, and at least be like a contributor in year one at the collegiate game. All right, we're going to finish up here. The EA Sports College Football 26 game is out, and they rated the KU roster as you would expect. I'm going to go through some of the top rated players, and I think who's high, too high, who's too low. We'll get to that next.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of Locked on Jayhawks. You can find our show anywhere you get podcasts, including on our YouTube page, where you can like and subscribe to the show. And again, don't forget to check out Locked on College Football as well. So College Football 26, the video game is officially out. And if you missed it, the top 10 rated players for KU, Bryce Foster's number one, He is a 89 overall so really high

respect for Bryce Foster's you'd imagine Dean Miller was given an 87 rating along with Jalen Daniels that puts him in a tie for second at 87. Daniel Haishon Lashawn Williams tied at that point for fourth with an 85 each for both running backs and then six through 10 DJ Graham and Kobe Baines fourth with an 85 each for both running backs and then six through 10 DJ Graham and Kobe Baines tied with an 83 so corner and guard there. Leif Marjon, the kicker that you brought on from South Alabama, DJ Withers both given 80 twos and then Tommy Dunn, your other defensive tackle was given an 80.

So those are the top 10 rated for KU. I did also think it was interesting that the fastest player they gave to Bryson Hayes, the incoming freshman from the state of Kansas for KU. He's a 95 in speed. Emmanuel Henderson second on the team with a 92. So players that I think are too high, players that I think are too low on this list. So with the too high, I'm going to start here. I think this guy could be a stud down the line, but they have David McComb as a 74.

And it's not like, again, I think David McComb could end up being a stud for KU. But you look at how the rest of the quarterback roster is. Isaiah Marshall, I think was like a 71 and Cole Ballard was like a 65, which I think a Cole Ballard should be higher. Um, he's in his, what, third or fourth year with KU. He's had some game experience, like he might be beating those guys out, which yes, maybe it gives you some questions about those guys, but it also tells you that Ballard is performing well. I think Ballard should be rated higher. But point being Ballard might be your backup right now. So McComb shouldn't be rated nine points higher than Ballard.

I guess would be the answer there, even though I am very high in the long term potential of David McComb. I don't know that I would have Lashon Williams as the fifth best player tied fourth best player on KU with an 85, right? He had solid production at Iowa. I would have him probably closer to like a low 80s to be clear. And then I don't know with like Jackson Cook being a 73. You look at some of the receivers on K looked again in the two low column. Doug Emelian is a 67. I don't know like a million should be rated higher than Jackson Cook. Also Dean Miller 87.

I would have him again like lower 80s. I know he had the six acts. I know he was second team all big 12, but if you look at like the pressure rates, you look at some of the run defense stuff, like, I don't know, 87 to me feels like a very high rating. And I love Dean Miller, he's from my neck of the woods and College of the Canyons. But I think closer to probably 83 or

84 for me. But you know, maybe it does break out to that. This year, some guys that are probably too low. I mentioned Emilian and Ballard, I think Keene,Kubaka too low at a 66 as well. That's another guy that probably should be at least in the low 70s. Blake Harold is a 77. I think he should be closer to where Tommy Dunn is as an 80. I think he's been really good for KU last year

and should get even better as he was a young player. And then the other guy was like, this one I understand. I understand why Emmanuel Henderson's a 79. He doesn't have a ton of collegiate production. So, you know, being a high 70s, like that's not a bad rating at all, given, you know, where he's kind of been. But if you're making me guess, like,

is he gonna finish there? Is he gonna finish rated higher? I feel very good that he's gonna finish in the 80s, based on the season that he could possibly have, right? As long as he can stay healthy and stuff, I think he's going to have a monster season for KU as a receiver. So I think he'll finish a little higher than that. All right. That'll do it for this episode of the show with Locked on Jayhawks. You can find our show anywhere you get podcasts, including on our YouTube page, where you can like and

subscribe to the show and we'll see you next time for another edition of Locked on Jayhawks.