RIGA (Latvia) - Once a regular at major events, Croatia missed the last FIBA EuroBasket, and has not been at a FIBA Basketball World Cup since 2014.
Turning the new page, coach Tomislav Mijatovic put together a team revolving around Mario Hezonja; grabbing two comfortable wins over Cyprus and Israel to kick off their World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers campaign at 2-0.
However, it was the youngest player turning heads on Monday.
"A player is a player, regardless of his years," coach Mijatovic said afterwards, continuing:
"Michael showed his desire to play already last summer, but was injured and that kind of slowed him down in his progress. However, regardless of his age or lack of experience at this level with the national team - the sky is the limit for him. He knows he needs to stay humble, he needs to stay hungry, and needs to keep working like this."
Michael Ruzic, a 19-year-old big guy playing his club basketball at Joventut Badalona in the Basketball Champions League and the Spanish Liga Endesa, dominated in Riga with 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting, with 9 rebounds and a 30 efficiency rating also to his name.
Croatia were a +23 team with him on the floor.
Listed at 2.06m (6'9''), Ruzic's footwork makes him a fast defender, paired with his endless wingspan that could turn him into a solid rim protector.
"Second half (against Israel), what turned the game around for us was our good defense in that third quarter. We just played our game, we just stepped the rhythm up, and the lead just kept growing and growing," he said after the game.
Offensively, he has got the patience to establish his position down low and finish around the rim, while his high release allows him to finish midrange jumpers after short rolls with ease - somewhat similar to his father Tomislav, who played professionally across 20 years in Croatia, Türkiye and France.
Tomislav's professional path is also the reason why Michael was born in Besancon, as he played there in the 2006-07 season. His uncle Jurica also played professionally, and wait until we get to his mom's side of the family.
Barbara Jelic-Ruzic was one of the best volleyball players in the world in the 1990s, and both his aunt Vesna and grandfather Ivica played volleyball at the Olympics.
Different set of genes there.
That's why you shouldn't be surprised he's got a different mindset, already at 19.
"Playing for the national team is a huge honor for me, something I dreamed about as a kid. Emotionally, I needed this Window."
"I felt really good today," Michael explained what it felt like to wear the red-and-white checkered pattern jersey.
"I'm thankful coach Mijatovic called me up. Emotionally I needed this Window, to get back into shape after an ankle injury which kept me out of rhythm for a month and a half. You can't control such stuff, but I'll keep working, stay focused, won't think about the past nor the future. Just stay in the present and try to get better and better with each day."
While Croatia struggled in the Qualifiers ever since they reached the Quarter-Finals of the Olympics, don't worry about the talent depth from the Adriatic nation.
Especially in the frontcourt, which now features the likes of Ivica Zubac, Dario Saric, Karlo Matkovic, the Ivisic brothers, and a 19-year-old who's got another Croatian big as a mentor in Ante Tomic, his Badalona teammate.
For most fans, Ruzic's performance is just one game. For Croatia, it's a much needed sign of better times to come.
FIBA