Scout Report
A seventh grader who already touches 6-11 is going to get looks no matter what tape shows, but Strahinja Zelic gives evaluators something to actually chew on beyond the tape measure. He moves like a kid who hasn't fully grown into his own body yet, which is normal, but the flashes of touch and footwork are not.
Background
Details on Zelic's hometown and family are still thin at this stage — he's a name scouts are just starting to track down. What is clear is the company he keeps: he's currently sharing a roster with Isiah Harwell (2025, committed to Houston), Junior County (2026, committed to UConn), and Katrelle Harmon (2026, committed to Creighton), which tells you the program around him is producing high-major talent on a consistent basis. Being the youngest guy in that gym, practicing next to players two and three classes ahead of him, is the kind of environment that speeds up development fast. For a 2028 big man, that's about as good a proving ground as it gets this early.
Playing Style
At 6-11, Zelic already plays with more feel than most centers his age, and it shows up in how he reads the floor instead of just reacting to it. He's not a bruiser looking to bully smaller kids around — he's more of a mover, comfortable facing the basket, flashing to the short corner, and finishing off two feet rather than always going up strong through contact. Defensively he's still figuring out angles and timing, which is expected for a frame this new, but the length shows up as a deterrent even when the technique isn't there yet. He runs the floor better than a lot of players his size, sprinting the rim in transition rather than trailing the play. Passing out of the post is an area where he already flashes some vision — he'll find a cutter instead of forcing a tough look. The overall pace of his game is patient for a kid his age, which suggests instincts that don't always show up until later.
Strengths
The touch around the rim is the first thing that jumps off the tape — soft hands, a legitimate face-up jumper starting to form, and footwork in the post that looks more schooled than most 13 and 14-year-old bigs. His mobility for his height stands out too; he can change directions without looking stiff, which a lot of players his size never figure out. Coaches watching him will also notice the processing speed — he doesn't panic with the ball, even against older, faster competition in practice.
Areas to Watch
Strength is the obvious one — he needs mass to hold position against bigger, more physical post players as competition levels rise. His defensive positioning and rebounding instincts are still developing, more reactive than anticipatory right now, and that should sharpen with more reps against real size. Continued frame development and added explosiveness around the rim would unlock a lot more of what's already there technically.
Player Comparison
His combination of touch, mobility, and face-up comfort at this size brings to mind a young Chet Holmgren in terms of skill profile, not physicality — a big man who wants to play out on the floor and make plays rather than just bang inside. That comparison is purely stylistic at this stage given the massive gap in strength and experience, but the shooting-mobility-passing package for a player this tall is the through-line worth tracking.
Recruitment
No offers yet, which is entirely normal for a 2028 prospect three years out from his signing period. Recruiting attention for players this young typically follows once they start hitting the major team circuits and gyms fill up with college staffs, and given his current environment surrounded by high-major commits, that exposure figures to come. Programs will circle back as his frame fills out and the competition level rises — right now it's about development, not offers.
Projection
The ceiling here is a high-major center who can space the floor and make plays for others — a modern five who isn't limited to dunks and put-backs. The floor, if the frame and physicality don't catch up to the skill, is a solid mid-major rotation big with good hands and feel. It's far too early to project a pro outcome, but the tools for a stretch-five profile are already recognizable.
Updated Sep 28, 2026 · Analysis by PrepRadar Scouting Team