Serbian wing Aleksa Ristic breaks down Indiana commitment: 'I knew they were a big basketball place'

Indiana basketball dipped into the international pool of prospects on Monday afternoon when it landed a commitment from Serbian guard Aleksa Ristic.

Ristic — a 6-foot-5 guard — had college interest from Kansas, Louisville, Georgetown and Virginia Tech among others. But, it was Indiana that had the pull, connections and vision to land the talented shooter and scorer.

“Both the head coach and coach Kenny Johnson were in contact with me,” Ristic told TheHoosier.com. “They were just talking to me a few days before the commitment and they were telling me that I would fit the team really well and what they’re looking for so yeah as a player.”

Ristic averaged 13.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game for Dynamic VP this season in the Serbia KSL, the top league in Serbia. Ristic is a terrific shooter and shot 38.6 percent from three this season, going 39-of-101 from three in 19 games. 

His assist numbers also stand out. He accounted for nearly 30 percent of his team’s assists a game and held a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio as well.

In a Darian DeVries offensive system, being able to play with and without the ball is critical, with the expectation that numerous ball handlers will be on the floor at all times. Aleksa Ristic fits exactly that.

“I mean that’s the main thing that they wanted from me, that I can play on both the point guard playing on or off of the ball,” Ristic said. “That I’m a true combo guard and that I can be useful on both ends of the floor.”

Ristic’s agent, Stevan Petrovic, has followed both Indiana and head coach Darian DeVries for a few years. On the court, he sees a perfect fit in what DeVries will bring to the Indiana basketball program.

“I know coach DeVries, he did a great job at West Virginia and the whole staff as well, they’re great people. I think he will really fit good because he can play in pick and roll situations very well. He passes the ball very well, almost five assists a game and he shoots the ball outside at about 40 percent,” Petrovic told TheHoosier.com. “Defensively, he’s able to do well there as well.

“Indiana and coach DeVries can use him in both positions. That’s what they have talked Aleksa about. So I think he’s not only known as a one position guy, but he can he can play in can play both.”

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This season he had 12 games with at least two made 3s, including six with more than two.

While Ristic is known for his shooting ability, he understands he needs to improve all areas of his game to make the impact he wants at the college level.

“I need to work. I’ve been working on it — I need to work a lot more when I get to the paint, how I’m gonna finish over the big guys,” Ristic said. “That’s the main difference I gotta work on, but it’s been going good. I’ve been practicing getting crafty around the rim a lot, so I would say that’s the main part that I been in growing on.”

Ristic doesn’t model his game after specific players, but does watch numerous bigger guards to pick certain moves to implement into his game. Two players are Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker.

“Honestly, I don’t see myself in any other player, but I like to take a couple of moves here and there from some guys,” he said. “I like to watch a lot of (Anthony) Edwards and a lot of (Devin) Booker. I can find myself on some of their plays but I mostly am my type of guy.”

Ristic will join Indiana basketball after the U20 European Championships this summer. He’s looking forward to another year with his national team where he can expand his game and skillset, playing a slightly different role than during his club season.

Ristic played for the U20 National Team last summer and averaged 9.4 points while shooting 41.2 percent from three (14-of-34) in seven games. 

“I mean, in my club over in Belgrade, it’s been just me on the ball for the whole time I play and I know how to do that really, really well,” Ristic said. “But when it comes to national team, I do both. I do both on and off the ball, so other players can get involved. So I’m pretty excited to see how it will go, but from all the practices I can see myself doing pretty good. I’m very excited about the European basketball tournament.”

Ristic is expected to join Indiana after that ends in July. He’s also expected to be with the team when they go to Puerto Rico in August. That takes place from August 5-12.

Aleksa Ristic will have four years of eligibility when he arrives at Indiana.

“Get over there as soon as possible to know the team as much as possible,” Ristic said. ” … get some good chemistry going.

“I knew about Indiana and I knew they were big basketball place and the coach is definitely ensuring me about that — that they’re a pretty big basketball school, so yeah I knew about Indiana and the history and am excited to get there.”

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