NBA Draft Scouting Report: Croatia's Michael Ruzic

Scouting Report: Michael Ruzic

Michael Ruzic / FIBA.com

1. Player Info
2. Prospect Profile
3. Highlights
4. Draft Projection
5. 2025 Big Board

Player Info

Michael Ruzic

Forward | Croatia 

Height: 6'10" | Weight: 220 lbs 

2025 Draft Age: 18.71

July 12, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of FIBA basketball during a stoppage in play as the United States play against the Dominican Republic in the second half at the Thomas and Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Prospect Profile

A skilled frontcourt player who is beginning to emerge as one of the best international prospects in the world, Ruzic has clear NBA potential. Standing at 6-foot-10, he’s incredibly fluid for his size and fits the modern mold of the league. 

On both ends of the floor, Ruzic is incredibly smart, rarely making mistakes relative to other players his age. He’s quick for his size, but also thin, so he has room to improve as his body naturally develops in the coming years. He has a frame that looks to be able to add more weight and he could still be growing from a height perspective. 

With a strong face-up game and soft touch around the rim, his offensive game has a good foundation. Ruzic’s jumper also continues to improve, which will only enhance his upside on that end. As a connective piece, the Croatian forward can make things happen as a good positional passer, but can be turnover-prone at times. If he wants to emerge as more of a facilitating big, he will need to clean that up. 

Ruzic provides defensive versatility with his ability to defend in space and move with quickness for his size. He’s also a smart defender and processes the game quickly on that end which results in him often making the right reads. He will primarily guard frontcourt players at the NBA level, but if he gets switched onto smaller position he has the tools to hold his own. 

The Croatian prospect will still be 18 years old on the night of the 2025 NBA Draft and will be one of the younger players in that class. He really stood out at adidas Eurocamp in Italy during the Summer of 2024 against some of the best prospects in the world. Ruzic is a proven talent with vast experience in the Spanish ACB as a teenager. 

Highlights

Draft Projection

Mid First-Round Pick in 2025 NBA Draft.

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2025 Big Board

Want to know more about other potential 2025 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Big Board.

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