By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Filou Oostende announced that Mario Nakic has signed a deal with the Belgian team until 2022. The 19-year-old prospect will make his debuts in the Belgian League as well as the Basketball Champions League.
“Nakic chooses Filou Oostende because of the excellent reputation of the club’s training course led by coach Dario Gjergja,” the club’s announcement stated.
Nakic started off his basketball steps in Belgrade in the youth teams of Zemun and Partizan before moving to Spain and joining Real Madrid in 2015 at 14 years old.
He led Madrid’s U18 squad to the top of the 2019 Adidas Next Generation Tournament and earned the MVP honors along the way. He set championship game records with 33 points and 41 PIR.
Amar Sylla was his teammate back then and they will once again be reunited as the Senegalese big joined Oostende last season. Both are considered NBA-level prospects and further compliment the Belgian club’s focus on player development.
Nakic made his professional debut with Real Madrid in 2018 while this past season, he played 12 games including three in EuroLeague.
On the national team front, Nakic hasn’t decided yet on playing for either that he is eligible for – Croatia or Serbia – although, multiple statements from both sides suggested that he has been closer to wearing the latter’s jersey.