Michigan, Harvard & Stanford showing standout 6'7" Canadian serious interest.

Defending Ontario high school champions St. Mike’s College have a growing trend of grads who have recently made the direct jump from SMC to the NCAA. Oregon St junior Malcolm Duvivier in 2013 set the precedent. Now this season St. Bonaventure frosh Nelson Kaputo (fresh off and OFSAA gold medal last spring) averaged 17.5 minutes per game for the Atlantic 10 champion Bonnies.

Enter 1999 born Danilo Djuricic now who is showing consistent flashes of high major talent while spearheading this seasons Blue Raiders into an OFSAA final four appearance — in what was supposed to be a ‘rebuilding year’.

The Brampton, On native Djuricic in Tuesday’s quarterfinals was dominant. 18 points, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks. Michigan and Harvard have their pursuit for this Serbian-Canadian in fifth gear. Jim Beilien was court side for Djuricic’s opener at OFSAA on Monday and according to one SMC official the entire Harvard coaching staff at one point have each visited a Blue Raiders practice over a span of a month.

St. Mike’s not being a member of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) a prep league in Ontario, or not travelling an extensive American circuit doesn’t bother Djuricic. Much like his choice of high school, academics will be vital when narrowing down his post secondary decision. While Danilo’s peers in the same conversation for top player in their age group are getting opportunities to play the likes of Oak Hill and Findlay Prep, Djuricic seizes his opportunities through AAU club CIA Bounce and Canada basketball who provide those litmus tests during the summer.

Ahead of this summer Djuricic has the ingredients to blow up like a crescendo. Expected to be a member of the Canada roster that will participate at the FIBA U17 World Championships, Djuricic is also pegged to play for CIA Bounce on the elusive NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit.

In last summers U16 FIBA Americas Djuricic made his Canadian international debut — 12.2 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game through five games.

After his quarterfinal performance Double D was kind enough to chop it up with HHC’s Ian Douglas. An in depth conversation about various topics surrounding one of Canada’s more promising prospects on the rise Danilo Djuricic.