2024 NBA draft notebook -- Topic returns home, Filipowski's leap - ESPN

A rare midseason transfer of an elite NBA prospect happened when Nikola Topic, the Serbian point guard ranked No. 6 in the ESPN 2024 draft rankings, was called back this week to the team he grew up with, Red Star, in the EuroLeague. The 18-year-old is a potential top-five pick and spoke with ESPN's Jonathan Givony about his departure from Mega MIS and the similarities between Topic's game and Luka Doncic.

Also in this week's NBA draft notebook, Jeremy Woo and Givony look at why the first-round prospects are older than usual, the freshmen players who could potentially benefit from another year in college and the rise of Duke's Kyle Filipowski.

Topic's loan to Mega MIS ended prematurely this week, as he was called back to EuroLeague squad Red Star, the team he grew up with, for the remainder of the season.

«My dream for many years has been to play for Red Star,» Topic told ESPN. «I grew up a fan of this club. It will mean everything for me to play in front of 20,000 Red Star fans. I couldn't say no to playing basketball in the EuroLeague.

»It's a huge risk, but I'm ready. I'm confident in myself 100%. My father, my agent Misko Raznatovic and I understand that this move could affect my draft chances if I don't do well. But I'm ready to compete and fight."

Topic replaces Shabazz Napier, who departed for Milan, playing alongside former NBA guards Milos Teodosic and Nemanja Nedovic, as well as Brazilian national team point guard Yago dos Santos.

The decision to return was ultimately Topic's, as he was heavily courted by Red Star in recent weeks, in an attempt to help his hometown club turn around its disappointing (6-10) EuroLeague season, which already saw its previous head coach, Dusko Ivanovic, fired.

Topic will now be