近距离内射合集

He came. He rebounded (like, a lot). He and the Lobos won a lot of games. And now Tomislav Buljan is moving on and IS widely expected to cash in on his one remaining season of college basketball eligibility.

Just not at UNM.

Buljan, the 6-foot-9, 23-year-old first-year college player from Split, Croatia, announced on Sunday that he is entering the NCAA鈥檚 transfer portal.

One of the best rebounders in the nation, Buljan is expected to make well into the $1 million to $2 million range for the coming season.

Buljan averaged 13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and shot 54.0% in Division I games this season. His 4.03 offensive rebounds per game ranked sixth best in the country.

He earned second-team All-Mountain West honors and was one of only 14 players in the country, and the only one in the Mountain West, to average a double-double.

Buljan in Indianapolis following the Lobos鈥� NIT semifinals loss to Tulsa that his decision on entering the portal would come "soon," but only after talking with family, his agents and UNM coaches.

The team and some coaches and staff traveled back to Albuquerque on Friday and player meetings began that day.

鈥淎fter a lot of thought and reflection, I have decided to enter the transfer portal and continue my journey beyond the University of New Mexico basketball program,鈥� Buljan wrote on his Instagram profile Sunday.

鈥淔irst and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to coach (Eric) Olen and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of this program. Your guidance, trust, and daily support have meant more to me than I can fully express.

鈥淭o my teammates 鈥� thank you for pushing me every day and for the brotherhood we built. The memories we created together will stay with me forever.

鈥淭o the entire UNM community and Lobo fans 鈥� thank you for welcoming me with open arms and for your constant support. Playing in front of you was truly special, and I will always be grateful for the energy and love you showed me.

鈥淚 also want to thank my family for their unconditional support, sacrifices and belief in me every step of the way. I wouldn't be in this position without you.

鈥淭his experience has helped me grow as a player and as a person, and I will carry that with me moving forward.

鈥淚'm excited for the next chapter and all that lies ahead.

鈥淭hank you. New Mexico 鈥� I will always appreciate my time here.鈥�

Buljan, who has played professionally in Croatia, has just one season of eligibility remaining.

When UNM recruited Buljan 鈥� assistant coach Tom Tankelewicz flew to Croatia to close the deal 鈥� the big man was granted just one year of eligibility.

The NCAA evaluates the eligibility of players who have experience in pro leagues overseas on a number of factors, including the level at which that player was a 鈥減rofessional鈥� (which includes things like salary, whether medical and training expenses are paid by the team or by the player are at reasonable costs, as well as access to housing, transportation and other living expenses).

UNM believed Buljan had a case for another year of playing eligibility and appealed to the NCAA. 

The extra year of eligibility was approved but not announced by UNM. Buljan said Thursday it was Olen鈥檚 decision not to announce it.

Sources around the team with direct knowledge of the appeal process who spoke to the Journal on condition of anonymity confirmed that the school worked on the appeal despite being fairly confident for many weeks that he was not going to return to UNM. 

The scenario is similar to what happened after the 2018-19 season, when UNM appealed to the NCAA to grant Anthony Mathis another year of eligibility, only for Mathis to leave Albuquerque to play his final season at Oregon, then a member of the old Pac-12.

Buljan will likely end up at a power conference program as well.

For context, after UNM鈥檚 last freshman season for the ages 鈥� JT Toppin鈥檚 in 2023-24 鈥� the former Lobos big man announced on the final day the transfer portal was open that he was leaving UNM to transfer to Texas Tech. It is believed Toppin made just north of $1 million that season and nearly $3 million this past season, when he was named to the All-America Second Team.

According to the database produced by On3.com, Toppin had an earning valuation this past season of $2.8 million 鈥� second most in college basketball behind $4.2 million for BYU鈥檚 AJ Dybantsa and one spot ahead of the $2.2 million valuation for Duke鈥檚 Cameron Boozer, the national Player of the Year.

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) .