PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Portland men's basketball program has added Matija Svetozarevic to the roster for the upcoming year, head coach Shantay Legans announced. Svetozarevic (6-8, 180) joins the Pilots as a true freshman for the 2021-22 season.

A regular member of the Serbian Youth National Team system, Svetozarevic helped the U-16 team to fifth place at the 2018 FIBA European Championships and was invited to the U-18 National Team camp last year before the tournament was cancelled due to COVID.

"Matija is a great late addition to our program," Legans said. "He had a lot of quality offers on the table and chose Portland because of the great opportunity to grow individually as a player under our staff and to help establish a winning program on The Bluff. Matija's combination of size, skills and athleticism is unique and we can't wait to start working with him once he gets to campus."  

"It is an honor and a blessing to join the University of Portland basketball program," Svetozarevic said. "Portland has an amazing school with a versatile program for players. I can't wait to get out there on the court and give it my all. Go Pilots!"

During the 2018 FIBA European Championships, Svetozarevic averaged 4.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in seven tournament games.

A native of Nis, Serbia, Svetozarevic joins the Pilots after playing club basketball for KK Dynamic in the since 2019. He has primarily competed with the club's U-19 squad and averaged 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18 games during the 2020-21 season. He also made five appearances for KK Dynamic's senior club, which plays in the top-tier Basketball League of Serbia.

Svetozarevic is the fifth true freshman coming to The Bluff for this season joining Vasilije Vucinic, Nikola Milosevic, Yaru Harvey and Skylar Wilson.

Legans has also brought in seven transfers, including three players – Mike Meadows, Tyler Robertson and Jack Perry – from his previous school, Eastern Washington. Transfers Matheus Silveira, Kristian Sjolund, Moses Wood and Chris Austin have also joined the Pilots for the upcoming season.