4-star Niko Bundalo talks UNC, Michigan State, Illinois, Xavier, Iowa; dives into potential visits
Niko Bundalo came in at No. 30 in the recent 2025 On3 Industry Ranking update. The 6-foot-9 forward experienced a breakout Summer, grabbing almost 15 offers since April with the Wildcats Select program on the Adidas 3SSB 16u Circuit.
“I’m trying to go out there every game and kill, just take people’s souls out there,” Bundalo told On3. “My confidence is high right now, I got that Mamba Mentality, I take that from Kobe when I play. I like watching a lot of European guys like Luke and Joker because I’m Serbian myself. I watch a lot of mixtapes too, guys like Malik Beasley and John Wall.”
On3 caught up with Niko Bundalo of Western Reserve Academy (OH) after a recent live viewing to dive into his recruitment and talk about possible visits.
Bundalo talks visits
“I’m definitely going to see Xavier and Michigan State,” Bundalo said. “I think I’ll go see Iowa and Illinois probably, too. I want to get to the campuses and experience the environments and see what they’re like.”
Xavier: “Sean Miller, when the first contact period came, he called me, and we talked about stuff I like to do outside of basketball. He didn’t ask me a single basketball-related question. They were the first big school to offer me back then. I got a great relationship with them, and I feel like when it comes down to making a decision, they’re going to be one of the schools that will be at the top of my list.”
Iowa: “They play a positionless style at Iowa. They like to run and gun a lot, They don’t play where the point is always on the ball, and the five is always in the paint. They like to spread the floor and attack mismatches and take advantage of the opportunities they’re given within the flow of the game.”
Illinois: “A lot of what they say they like about me has been the edge I play with. They like that I have that dog in me, and I play with a lot of heart; that’s something that they really value and always bring up.”
Michigan State: “I talked with Coach (Tom) Izzo. He’s a good dude. They haven’t offered yet, but they’re on me pretty hard. I really like their program. I think the way they utilize the four-man and the three-man is something that I could really excel in if I decided to go there. With his Hall of Fame coaching, I could be set up to go as far as I wanted to go.”
Bundalo talks dream school
“An offer I really want is UNC,” Bundalo said. “I grew up a fan of them and haven’t gotten the opportunity to talk with the coaches there yet.”
“My mom is from Chicago. She grew up watching Michael Jordan when she came over to the United States. So watching Michael Jordan and all of the documentaries and his old highlights, UNC just kept coming up. So she started liking UNC, and so did I, and they were the school I kept watching through my whole childhood.”
At the end of the day
“I’m going to be looking for a place that feels like home but at the same time is going to push me,” Niko Bundalo said. “I want to go to a place where there won’t be any easy days. I want to go to a place where I am going to have to grind and work hard. That is what will ultimately get me to the next level and ultimately play in the league.
“Being versatile as a player is good, but I also think that versatility gives me a wide range of schools I can play at. A lot of schools have fits for certain dudes and like to use their guys in certain ways. I think I will be able to come into a program and do whatever they need me to do.”