Tennessee forward Igor Milicic Jr. is representing the Polish national team this week as they aim to secure a spot in the 2024 Olympics. Poland is one of six nations competing in a tournament in Valencia, Spain, with an Olympic berth on the line. Eight of the 12 Olympic spots are already filled, with the remaining four to be decided through this week’s four six-team tournaments.
Milicic and Poland will kick off their campaign against the Bahamas on Wednesday, followed by a match against Finland on Thursday. The top four teams from the group stage will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, with the championship game set for Sunday.
Originally from Rijeka, Croatia, Milicic holds dual citizenship and is playing for Poland, coached by his father, Igor Milicic Sr., a successful European club league coach. In five recent exhibition games, Milicic Jr. averaged 9.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1 block per game. He shot 44% from the field and 39% from three-point range, performing well against teams like Greece, Croatia, Brazil, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Milicic was the third of four players to join Tennessee’s basketball roster this offseason via the transfer portal. He chose Tennessee over Nebraska and Baylor after visiting all three schools. In his junior season at Charlotte, he averaged 12.8 points on 49% shooting from the field and 38% from three-point range, along with 8.5 rebounds per game. Milicic has one year of college eligibility remaining, having previously played one season at Virginia and two at Charlotte.
The addition of Milicic is expected to bolster Rick Barnes’ squad, providing a versatile stretch-four option capable of making an impact both offensively and defensively. His international experience and performance in the Olympic qualifiers are poised to benefit the Volunteers as they prepare for the upcoming season.