Ivan walks on, tall

"I was the go-to guy in high school, now, it's about sacrifice and the experience of playing college basketball," he said. "In the back of my head, I miss high school basketball a lot. But how many people get the chance to play with future NBA players? And, now, I'm part of a team that plays in front of 10-, 12,000 people a game. It's really exciting."

Although Kovacevic has seen limited playing time, his addition to the Cal program has left an impression on Golden Bears head coach Ben Braun.

"Ivan brings a very strong work ethic, along with a very silent toughness, to our ball club," Braun said. "He never takes a day off and doesn't back down from anyone."

During many of the Golden Bears practice sessions, Kovacevic's main assignment is guarding Leon Powe.

Powe, a 6-8 sophomore forward and standout player on the team, was named first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference this week.

"Many times he does so without the double- and triple-teams that our opponents deploy in games," Braun said of Kovacevic's coverage of Powe. "Ivan is a great teammate and never complains. He is a tireless worker and liked and respected by all his teammates. He is a straight-A student and an outstanding example of what it means to be a student-athlete at Cal."

Kovacevic, who is undeclared but is leaning toward majoring in economics or business administration, said his experience playing college ball has left him wanting more.

"I plan on playing again next year," he said. "This experienced has definitely structured my day-to-day routine and has helped me grow and gain independence in college.

"And with it, I'm experiencing something new every day. The travel, we just had senior night and next, the Pac-10 tournament. It's been a rewarding experience."cpt.10-spplayer-1-CPhotoInfoJ91OP6D320060310ivu649kn(LA)California Golden Bear Ivan Kovacevic, a former Laguna Beach High School basketball star who is now a walk-on at Cal.cpt.10-spplayer-2-CPhotoInfoJ91OP6D520060310ivu650knCal Media Relations(LA)Ivan Kovacevic