Local Sports Report: Toreros add foreign pair to overhauled 2025-26 basketball roster

Steve Lavin’s overhaul of the University of San Diego men’s basketball roster has taken on an international twist with the addition of two potentially key players.

Lavin confirmed the signings of 7-foot-1 center Piotr Winkowski of Poland and 6-8 wing Vuk Boskovic of Serbia. The two join an influx of 13 newcomers, seven of whom are transfers.

Winkowski and Bukovic are expected to arrive on campus next week and be on the court when the Toreros begin fall workouts on Sept. 8.

The 22-year-olds bring instant size to a Toreros frontline that looked undersized beyond 6-8 Colorado transfer Assane Diop.

Winkowski played for Enea Abramczyk Astoria Bydogoszcz in Polish Liga 1 in 2023.  His highlight reel includes several impressive dunks from the post, driving from the wing or in pick-and-roll situations.

Boskovic averaged 14.2 points and 6.3 rebounds while being named MVP of the Bosnian Division I league. His highlights show a strongly built, multi-skilled player who can shoot, handle the ball and attack the basket out of transition.

Winkowski and Boskovic add more international flavor to a team that already features Diop (Senegal), transfer forward Alejandro Aviles (Puerto Rico) and transfer guard Juanse Gorosito (Argentina).

“The additions of Vuk and Piotr will bolster our frontline depth and versatility,” Lavin said. “Over the last six months alone, we have opted into the revenue share program, opened a state-of-the-art Basketball Performance Center and signed a recruiting class of 13 student-athletes to complete our roster reconstruction efforts.”

USD opens the season Nov. 4 against Occidental following an Oct. 18 home exhibition game against Cal State Dominguez Hills and an Oct. 29 exhibition at San Diego State.

Tritons set schedule

UC San Diego’s men’s basketball program has set its nonconference schedule, which opens Oct. 14 with a home exhibition game against Cal State San Marcos.

Key dates include the Nov. 3 season opener against LaVerne at LionTree Arena; a Nov. 24 matchup against Temple in the opening round of the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla.; a Dec. 2 game at Nevada, a Dec. 16 game at Loyola Marymount; and a Dec. 19 home game against USD.

Also, all fans attending the Nov. 8 homecoming game against Houston Christian will receive a replica banner commemorating last season’s Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Notable

USD’s Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center is hosting the UTR Pro Summer Slam National Championships through Monday. The event many top recent and current college men’s and women’s players.

• Balboa Tennis Club has been honored as one of 45 outstanding facilities in the nation. The 25-court facility located in the corner of Balboa Park originally opened in 1922 on the current site of the San Diego Zoo and moved to its current location in 1933.