Luka Samanic Named to Croatia’s EuroBasket Qualifying Squad

Croatian big man Luka Samanic, who made a brief and unexpected departure from Fenerbahce Beko earlier this year, has now received a call-up to the Croatian national team. Following his exit from Fenerbahce, Samanic has been training with Cibona Zagreb, which paved the way for his inclusion in the national team roster.

The Croatian Basketball Federation recently announced its 21-man preliminary squad for the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers scheduled in November, with Samanic among the selected players.

Additionally, Jaleen Smith, the experienced guard who signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji this summer, has also been named to the Croatian squad as a naturalized player.

In the upcoming November window, Croatia will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in two consecutive EuroBasket qualifying games—first at home and then on the road three days later.