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How the Luka Bogavac Addition Grades Out So Far

The overseas transfer has experienced up-and-down performances this season. How impactful has his addition been for North Carolina?
Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA;  North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) with the ball as Georgetown Hoyas center Julius Halaifonua (11) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) with the ball as Georgetown Hoyas center Julius Halaifonua (11) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been one of the most interesting teams to keep tabs on this season, as the roster is constructed around seven newcomers. Four of those players were brought in through the transfer portal this past offseason.

One of those additions was overseas guard Luka Bogavac, who joined the program late in the process, as he was not part of the team during the preseason. The 6-foot-5, 216-pound guard is averaging 12.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range.

It has not been an efficient experience through the first nine games, but head coach Hubert Davis understands that it could take some time for Bogavac to find his footing.

Davis' Thoughts

Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks with guard Kyan Evans (0) and guard Derek Dixon (3) in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
  • "I think that's huge," Davis said. "I mean, it's only nine games in. I don't know who I talked to before, but in the preseason, we didn't have Luka [Bogavac]. Then we had a full team for two games, and then we haven't had Seth [Trimble] for six games."
  • "So, it's trying to figure out rotations," Davis continued. "And then when Seth comes back, it's finding it again. Different combinations is one of the things that I was excited about coming into the season. That is the versatility that we have, that we can throw out a number of different rotations out there that can be really effective on the floor."

The veteran guard, who is playing his first season in collegiate basketball, explained the learning curves and development he is going through in the first nine games.

Bogavac's Thoughts

Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) shoots as Georgetown Hoyas center Julius Halaifonua (11) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
  • "I try every single game to get more and more comfortable, to try to find my rhythm with this team," Bogavac said. "The pick-and-roll game is one of the things that I feel most comfortable [with]."
  • "Our goal is just to learn from every single game to be more efficient [on] both ends of the floor, and so this is what we try to do every single night," Bogavac said.

That could speak to some of Bogavac's struggles from the field, but the former pro-overseas player has been thrust into the starting lineup, which may not be the best for his production. Bogavac may be best suited coming off the bench as a role player with limited minutes. Trimble's return should do just that, but it is going to be at least a few weeks until that transpires.

Grade: B

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Published
Logan Lazarczyk
LOGAN LAZARCZYK

Logan Lazarczyk is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Journalism. He is our UNC Tar Heels Beat Reporter. Logan joined our team with extensive experience, having previously written and worked for media entities such as USA Today and Union Broadcasting.