Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Tuesday that Arizona State transfer Uroš Plavšić (pronounced: Ü-rōsh PLÄV-shich) has signed an institutional aid agreement with UT and plans to enroll for the first session of summer school.
A 7-foot center from Ivanjica, Serbia, Plavšić graduated from Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before redshirting last season at ASU.
He first moved to the United States in October 2017 and averaged 9.6 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading Hamilton Heights to a 28-7 record and the NACA Division I national championship in his lone season there.
“Uroš is a skilled athlete with impact size,” Barnes said. “He’s a strong, physical player who can hold his own in the paint, and his offensive skill set could also allow him to play away from the basket, keeping the floor spaced. His mobility and ability to run make him a great fit in our transition offense and pressure defense schemes. And his comprehension of the game and understanding of the value of being a great teammate are more reasons we’re excited about him joining our program.”
In Serbia, Plavšić played on the Belgrade-based BC Mega Leks junior team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the Euroleague championships. He has also competed against fellow Serbian and NBA All-Star Nikola Jokić, as well as Croatian NBA center Ivica Zubac.
Plavšić was listed in the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s 21st-ranked center in the Class of 2018 and the fifth-ranked prospect in the state of Tennessee. He was rated as high as 102 nationally and was part of a four-man ASU signing class that was ranked 14th in the country.
He joins a crop of Tennessee newcomers that includes guards Josiah-Jordan James and Davonte Gaines and forwards Drew Pember and Olivier Nkamhoua.
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