Michael Ruzic Gets NCAA Eligibility Cleared, Debuts for LSU

The wait is over for Michael Ruzic. The 20-year-old Croatian center, who left Asisa Joventut this summer for the NCAA, has been granted eligibility and made his debut with LSU on Thursday. According to head coach Will Wade, Ruzic found out just three hours before the game.

His debut came in a preseason game in Lake Charles against McNeese, which LSU won 63-60. Ruzic played 35 minutes and recorded a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds, leading the game in rebounding. He was the only international player in LSU's active roster: Saliou Niang, Brice Dessert, and Gilad Levy traveled and warmed up with the team, but are still awaiting their eligibility clearance.

A summer of uncertainty

Ruzic committed to LSU in May, but his transition to the NCAA became complicated throughout the summer. New, stricter eligibility rules for players with professional contracts left many international signings in limbo, and LSU was one of the programs most affected: by early September, the program had only four players on its official roster.

That uncertainty put Ruzic on the radar of several European teams seeking interior reinforcements. As Piratas del Basket reported on September 10, Kosner Baskonia inquired about his situation in case the matter wasn't resolved. With the NCAA's green light, that door is now closed.

Read also

• Baskonia inquires about Michael Ruzic if NCAA issues prevent him from joining LSU
• The NCAA empties Liga Endesa: around twenty players leave in a single summer

Asisa Joventut compensated

Ruzic had a contract with Asisa Joventut through 2029 after renewing in February 2024, when he was already receiving offers from the United States. According to Gigantes del Basket, with his NCAA transfer completed, the Badalona club will receive financial compensation from the exit agreement.

What he leaves behind in Badalona

Ruzic departs as one of Europe's most promising young centers. Son of former EuroLeague player Tomislav Ruzic, he was born in Besançon in 2006 and joined Badalona in 2023 from Zadar. Last season he averaged 6.9 points and 4 rebounds in 17.9 minutes across 33 Liga Endesa games, 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in the playoffs, and 7.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11 Basketball Champions League games. His best performance came on April 18 against Kosner Baskonia: 18 points, 9 rebounds, and a 27 efficiency rating.

He was named to the Liga Endesa All-Young Team in 2026 and is one of five players to exceed a 20 efficiency rating in a game before turning 18, alongside Ricky Rubio, Luka Dončić, Usman Garuba, and Aday Mara. Since August 2025, he has been a full international for Croatia.

LSU plays its next preseason game on October 14 against UCF.