Prospect Highlight: Michael Ruzic 2006 CRO Joventut
Michael Ruzic broke out on the youth basketball scene playing for Zadar at the 2023 ANGT. The 2006-born Croatian this summer moved to Joventut Badalona and has excelled and now signed until 2029.
Michael Ruzic broke out in youth basketball circles playing for KK Zadar at the 2022-23 Adidas Next Generation Tournament Zadar. The 2006-born Croatian power forward shined despite being a year younger. Ruzic, the son of a former EuroLeague player, moved this summer to Spain to play for Joventut Badalona. Despite being just 17 years old, he has already put up multiple games with double figures scoring. And Joventut did not waste any time and locked up Ruzic on a five-year contract until 2029.
Ruzic was actually born in Besancon, France, while his father Tomislav Ruzic was playing for Besancon Basket in 2006-07. Michael also lived in Antalya, Turkey, when his father played for Bld Antalya in 2007-08. Tomislav Ruzic played four seasons in the EuroLeague from 2000-01 to 2004-05 with Zadar, Cibona Zagreb and ASVEL Villeurbanne. He played 53 games in the EuroLeague as well as 51 games during four seasons in the EuroCup - including 2008 to 2010 for Zadar and as late as 2013-14 for Besiktas Istanbul.
Michael started playing in KK Zadar’s youth system in 2018, playing U13 and U15 in 2018-19 - after turning 12 in October. He played in the U15 team in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and also played for the Croatian club in the U16 EYBL in 2021-22. That season, Ruzic jumped to Zadar’s U17 and U19 teams.
The summer after that season saw Ruzic make his Croatia debut, playing at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2022 in Skopje, North Macedonia. The power forward averaged 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds, but the team finished 14th as it lost to Serbia 70-63 in the final game to then be relegated to Division B for 2023. (Croatia would win the Division B in 2023 to be promoted right back to Division A).
"I learned a lot. No matter how bad things get, no matter how many bad things happen you must always rise above that and continue moving forward. You may get knocked down, but keep moving because it’s never about how you fall but how you get back up," Ruzic said on the ANGT site in 2023.
The 2022-23 season saw the 2.06 meter Ruzic play a number of different teams. He played again in the Croatian U17 and U19 leagues and also starred for Zadar at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Zadar. He collected 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 block, and he really impressed observers as he bounced back from a poor opening performance with 6 points on a 2/10 shooting with 6 rebounds and 3 turnovers against Next Generation Team Zadar.
Ruzic then poured in 29 points with 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks against Helsinki Basketball Academy and finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks against FC Barcelona.
Ruzic also played in the U19 ABA league and averaged 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in two games. And the youngster collected 13.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks while playing 30 games for KK Jazine in the Croatian second division.
The 2023 summer saw Ruzic take part in the Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, playing with a Next Generation team. The Croatian really impressed scouts with his offensively polished game and good understanding. He was one of the youngest players in the event.
Ruzic after that worked through a number of different options for his future. There were offers from big universities in the United States and Spanish clubs Valencia and Gran Canaria were also reportedly interested in signing the Croatian.
But Ruzic decided on Joventut in the Barcelona suburbs due to the club’s excellent youth development work as well as good track record of giving youngsters playing time in the pro team.
Having a legendary Croatian figure like Ante Tomic in the club didn’t hurt Joventut’s cause either.
Ruzic started the season playing for Prat in the Spanish third division LEB Silver as well as the fourth division team in EBA.
In six LEB Silver games from early October to early November, he averaged 10.3 points on 35.7% three-point shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks with 1.0 turnovers in 24 minutes. And Ruzic averaged 17.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks in 30 minutes per game over three contests in the EBA.
Injuries in Joventut’s senior team to Ante Tomic, Chinanu Onuaku and Vladimir Brodziansky resulted in senior team coach Carles Duran calling Ruzic to his squad in late October.
On October 31, Ruzic made his professional debut in the EuroCup, picking up 4 points and 2 rebounds in 6 minutes against Veolia Towers Hamburg. He played a week later against London Lions and picked up 2 points and 1 rebound in 10 minutes. On November 11, Ruzic debuted in the Spanish ACB by hitting his only three-point attempt for 3 points in 4 minutes against Rio Breogan.
By this time, Ruzic had played his last game with either of Joventut’s other two teams in the LEB Silver or EBA.
On November 14, the forward collected 17 points on 7-of-9 shots including 2-of-2 three-pointers and 1-of-2 free throws to go with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks against Paris Basketball in the EuroCup.
Ruzic on November 19 started a stretch of 12 games with at least 11 minutes played in the ACB, averaging 3.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in the first first 11 of them.
In the EuroCup, Ruzic scored 12 points against Umana Reyer Venice on December 26 and chipped in 11 points against Hapoel Tel Aviv on January 30.
February 1, 2024 will be a day Ruzic will never forget as he signed a five-year contract with Joventut until 2029.
“He is a very talent player, very good fundamentals, very good understanding of the game both on offense and defense. When the physical improvement comes, he will be a player who can play minutes at the highest level,” Joventut sports director Jordi Marti said on the club’s website announcing the signing.
“He is committed and has made a bet for us. I hope that his character transmits it even more to the group: age doesn’t matter because in the end having character in the team makes you competitive.”
In the first game after the announcement, Ruzic collected 6 points on 3-of-5 shots, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks and just 1 turnover. That meant an efficiency of 19 against Palencia.
That left him just one valuation point shy of becoming just the fifth player in ACB history with an efficiency of 20 at aged 17 and under. The others: Ricky Rubio, Luka Doncic, Usman Garuba and Aday Mara.
“His stats aren't fantastic, but he's a player who always adds up,” Coach Duran said after the game. “Whenever he is there, he gives his best, and his best is good for the team.”
Ruzic’s next game was in the EuroCup and he again scored 11 points - hitting 3-of-5 three-pointers - to go along with 1 rebound, 1 assist and 2 blocks.
Thus far, Ruzic is averaging 6.5 points with 48.1% three-point shooting and 2.6 rebounds in 17 minutes in 14 games in the EuroCup.
In 17 minutes per game in the ACB, he is picking up 3.2 points on 27.3% three-point shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 13 games.
According to Mario Gomez on Twitter, Ruzic in his next Spanish league game will equal Ricky Rubio’s record for most games by a 14-17 year old in their first season at Jovenut.
Ruzic is living with a legal guardian in an apartment with other Penya scholarship players. In addition to his practice, he finds time to study high school remotely from his country.
Having already become an integral part of Joventut’s pro team, there at least must be a question raised if Ruzic will be available for Joventut for the 2024 ANGT. Joventut will be playing at the ANGT Paris from April 5-7. The EuroCup Semi-Finals are scheduled from March 26 to April 3 with the EuroCup Finals due to start on April 9.
Ruzic has been included on Croatia’s preliminary roster for the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers window later in February. Croatia will be taking on France and Cyprus.
Ruzic would also likely be an integral part of the Croatia team at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2024 in Tampere, Finland. Croatia have not finished in the top five of the continental event since taking third place in 2014, finishing up a three summer stretch of the title in 2012 and second place in 2013.
A top-five finish in Finland would qualify Croatia for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 in Switzerland. Croatia last played at the U19 World Cup in 2015 when they finished second. Croatia also have third placed finishes in 1999 and 2009.
Until then Ruzic will have a lot of opportunities to impress the basketball community.
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