By Reese Merritt
@reesemerritt_
Unselfishness is a challenging skill to teach, but it is an essential one in a team sport.
Olivia Vukosa – a 6-foot-4 center for Christ the King High School (NY) and the No. 5 girls’ basketball prospect in the graduating class of 2026, according to ESPN HoopGurlz – exemplified selfless play when she led her team to the New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association girls’ varsity basketball AA state championship last spring.
The five-star prospect from Middle Village, N.Y., didn’t just focus on scoring. Instead, she filled every column on the stat sheet, putting up a double-double (24 points and 16 rebounds) while adding three assists and four blocks as the Lady Royals took down St. Joseph by-the-Sea High 85-63. In addition to her scoring, Vukosa facilitates the ball, runs the floor well and is an excellent passer.
“Mainly this year, something I’ve gotten a lot better at is being able to facilitate the ball and bring up the ball, and lead a break, which is definitely something that a lot of bigs can’t really do,” Vukosa told Hardcore Sports Network.
Christ the King coach Bob Mackey, who also coached four-time WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird as a high schooler, praised Vukosa’s selflessness.
“She doesn’t care if she scores five points or scores 25 points,” Mackey told PIX11 News. “It doesn’t matter to her. She’s got that mentality of ‘team wins, this is what we do.’”
Mackey is also proud of how Vukosa has managed her maturing process, a process every player must encounter.
“From Breanna Stewart, to Sue Bird, they all went through that maturing process,” Mackey said. “She was getting attention as a 14-year-old freshman. Now as a 16-year-old junior, the attention has gotten exponentially different. She’s handling that really, really well.”
The polished post player’s selflessness was on display again on the international stage last summer. With Croatia leading Puerto Rico 74-62 in the opening game of the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, Vukosa got the ball at the top of the three-point line. 27 seconds remained as two defenders hovered in front of her while she swiftly scanned the court for options. Instead of taking the shot, Vukosa passed the ball left to her unguarded teammate, Lena Bilic, who nailed a three-pointer to put the game further out of reach. Croatia notched a 77-65 triumph, the country’s first ever victory at the tournament.
“I didn’t realize that it was the first [win] until they told me afterwards, but it felt great,” Vukosa said. “Representing my country is one of the most important things to me, it’s a family history that I cherish.”
The win wasn’t the only history Vukosa made that day. She had 23 rebounds, which tied for second-most in the tournament’s history, including 16 defensive boards, the most ever in the competition. Then, in Croatia’s final game of the World Cup, a 86-76 win over Chinese Taipei, Vukosa became the first player to earn a performance efficiency valuation of 50, after putting up another astounding double-double (31 points and 24 rebounds), while also racking up six blocks, three steals and two assists. She was named the tournament’s Best Defensive Player.
Nicknamed “Big O” and named after Olivia Benson, the main character in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” – her parents’ favorite show – Vukosa has become a star herself. She might be one of the best centers in the country, but she doesn’t need to be the center of attention.
“She just wants to play,” her father, Damir, told PIX11 News.
Vukosa, who hails from Middle Village, N.Y., played for Croatia because her grandparents are originally from the European Republic. The 16-year-old also starred for the Nike Elite Youth Basketball team Philly Rise, in the Overtime Select league, and in the ACES Elite Classic. But she remains a New Yorker at heart.
“To me, NYC basketball means that I am part of a culture and an ongoing legacy,” Vukosa told MSG Networks. “I also love playing basketball in the city where I was born and raised.”
The 16-year-old has become one of the most sought-after players in the country, and has already received offers from more than 30 college teams. She and Christ the King took the floor twice at Hoophall, falling to Ontario Christian 87-75 on Jan. 17, but defeating Sacred Heart 71-47 on Jan. 18. The attention and adulation hasn’t stopped Vukosa from grinding, however.
“She pushes it in practice every day, she pushes it in games,” her coach said. “The kid doesn’t take days off.”
Just like her namesake, Vukosa is the protagonist and the quintessential problem-solving New Yorker, prioritizing the team first while functioning as a master navigator, solving each and every case on the court.
“Me and my team, all we care about is winning and playing together,” Vukosa said. “And really building that chemistry for years to come.”