July 16 – Luka Krajnovic’s basketball career will resume in his native Croatia.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound point guard, who saw limited time in his lone season at Gonzaga, will play next season for KK Cedevita Junior in his hometown of Zagreb. Krajnovic reportedly entered the transfer portal at the end of April, just before the deadline.
Krajnovic, a late addition to Gonzaga’s roster when he signed last August, was sidelined for nine games from mid-December through the end of January with a broken hand. He was unable to find consistent minutes in GU’s backcourt behind starters Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman and freshman wing Dusty Stromer. The Zags also started three big starters in the final 19 games of the season.
Krajnovic showed some playing ability in 15 appearances and 132 total minutes. He averaged 2.9 points while shooting 46.7% from the field, including 33.3% on 3-pointers and 78.9% from the foul line.
He scored a season-high seven points four times, including in Gonzaga’s 86-65 first-round NCAA tournament victory over McNeese State in Salt Lake City. He also had a strong performance for Kraziness at the Kennel, scoring 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in a preseason team scrimmage with several family members in attendance at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
Before joining the Zags as a freshman last season, Krajnovic excelled for Bosco in the Croatian Premier League, averaging 17.6 points and earning All-League honors in 2022. Krajnovic also played for the U16 and U18 teams. from Croatia.
Krajnovic, 20, and 6-9 forward Pavle Stosic were the only two scholarship players on Gonzaga’s 2023-24 team to enter the transfer portal. Stosic, a native of Serbia, committed to Utah State.
