Cedevita Zagreb invested in its future by signing one of Europe’s top young big men, Ivica Zubac, to a long term deal, the club announced on Thursday. Zubac (2.14 meters, 18 years old) arrives from city-rival Cibona Zagreb, where this season he averaged 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in five Adriatic League games, and had 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in two FIBA Europe Cup games. Last summer, Zubac led the Croatian national team to the silver medal at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship, where he was tournament's third-best scorer with 17.6 points, and ranked seventh in rebounding with 7.9 per game. Zubac signed with Cedevita for three and a half years, and will be eligible to make his Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut in Top 16 Round 8. He has previously played for Cibona’s junior teams, spent a season on loan with Zrinjevac Zagreb, and joined Cibona’s first team last season.

"I am extremely happy and pleased that I will have a chance to have a player with such potential like Ivica on the team," said Cedevita head coach Veljko Mrsic on Friday when Zubac was introduced to the media. "I've been following him for a long time, I know what he is capable of. I think he can help us right away, not to mention about future years. Zubac has many qualities. We have to work on them and raise them to another level, get him to fit in the team as soon as possible. I believe his performances on the floor will speak enough about his qualities."