Cleared by NCAA, Luka Bogavac Awaits UNC Eligibility Resolution

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Two weeks out from the season opener, North Carolina international newcomer Luka Bogavac has been cleared to play during the 2025-26 season by the NCAA, Hubert Davis confirmed on Wednesday. His playing status, however, has not been fully resolved.

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What remain are internal steps for UNC before he is able to take the court, a program source explained, adding that while his admittance to the school occurred two months ago, the school determining his playing eligibility is a separate step.

Bogavac, who is 22 years old, is far removed from completing high school and took college courses for two years while overseas, all of which has been a complicating factor in the overall eligibility process, sources have noted.

Davis said Bogavac could “possibly” play in North Carolina’s exhibition against BYU. A school official said the athletic department and the university are working to finalize the process, and there is no timetable for completion.

“From an NCAA standpoint, yes,” Davis said Wednesday when asked if Bogavac has been cleared. “Institutionally wise, we’re working on it, and we’re making progress.”

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard from Montenegro traveled to Chapel Hill and enrolled in August. He tied for a game-high 14 points in the Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage earlier this month.

“He’s been great getting to know and also coaching him,” Hubert Davis recently said of Bogavac. “He’s been fantastic in the classroom and also on the court. As a player, he’s somebody who can do a number of different things on both ends of the floor. He’s got great size, can handle it, and make plays with the ball in his hand. Can shoot, score on many different levels, mid-range, get to the bucket, excellent passer, and somebody who had a burning desire to be here and to be a part of this program. And as soon as he walks into a room, it just brightens up. He just has that type of personality I’ve really enjoyed being around.”

Bogavac is a veteran of pro ball, having played four seasons in ABA Liga (the Adriatic Basketball Association) for the SC Derby club out of Podgorica, Montenegro.

Bogavac averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in 2024-25 for SC Derby, with shooting splits of 45.1% FG, 39.9% 3pt, 87% FT.

“Shooting is the main thing that he brings,” said Inside Carolina analyst Sean Moran. “He shot 40% on a high volume in that league this year. He has a really nice stroke, whether it’s off the catch or off the dribble. He’s a shooting guard, but he can also handle the ball. He’s pretty creative. He utilizes the pick-and-roll and is efficient.

“He’s been playing against grown men, which is only going to help when you transition to playing against 18-22 year olds. He is built out physically. It makes the transition to college a little easier than it is for an 18-year-old coming out of high school. Bogavac brings shooting, and it’s more than just catch-and-shoot opportunities. He’ll be a consistent scoring threat at UNC.”

ABA Liga is the same pro league that former Tar Heel All-American and current UNC assistant coach Marcus Paige played in from 2018-21.

“Marcus Paige played three years at Partizan, which is a top team in the Adriatic League,” Moran added. “It’s not apples to apples because Partizan has a bigger budget and is more talented than Montenegro, but he was averaging 11 points per game coming off the bench. That shows Marcus Paige at age 24-27 playing in the same league that Bogavac just averaged 14 points per game in.”

The NCAA clearance is the latest step in a more than four-month process that began when Bogavac committed to UNC on May 31. Sources indicated he cleared UNC admissions in early July and was granted his student visa in August following an interview with officials at the US embassy in Montenegro, allowing him to enroll at UNC.