July 24, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team, which returns 75 percent of scoring and 62 percent of rebounding from last season, added a key piece to the 2013-14 roster with Serbian youth national team member Katarina Vuckovic, head coach MaChelle Joseph announced Wednesday.
Vuckovic is a 6-3 power forward from Smeredevo, Serbia, and she averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds through the first five games for the Serbian U19 team in the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships in Lithuania. Her best overall game came against Korea when she finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks as Serbia claimed an 88-79 victory.
Against Brazil, Vuckovic made 5-of-9 field goals and finished with a team-high 16 points. For the tournament, she made 53 percent of her field goal attempts and 4-of-8 3-point field goals.
“Kat is one of the top young players in Europe in the class of 2013,” Joseph said. “She is a versatile post player that will give us much needed depth on the interior. I am impressed with her ability to face up and play on the offensive end from 17 feet in and her passing skills are exceptional for a post player. The international experience she is having playing on the Serbian U19 team in Lithuania will help Kat transition into the ACC this season.”
Vuckovic was the starting power forward for her club team, Crvena Zvezda, in 2012-13, which went 22-3 and finished atop the league standings. She converted nearly 53 percent of her field goal attempts en route to averaging 11.2 points per game, second best on the team. Her 5.9 rebounds per game were third on the team.
She also gained international experience playing for the Serbian U18 team that earned a bronze medal at the 2012 FIBA U18 European Championships in Bucharest, Romania. In nine games, Vuckovic averaged 7.0 points and 4.6 rebounds while making over 58 percent of her field goal attempts.
Vuckovic will join redshirt senior Shayla Bivins, sophomores Roddreka Rogers and Nariah Taylor, as well as freshman Gabrielle Holston as post players. Joining Vuckovic as incoming freshmen are high school All-American Kaela Davis, Donnaizha Fountain and Gabrielle Holston.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, Instagram, GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
–RamblinWreck.com–
