UCF senior guard Djordjije Mumin has been a walk-on for the men's basketball team for the last three and a half seasons. For his final semester as a Knight, Mumin will be on scholarship.
After two years of seeing limited minutes, Mumin saw an increased role last year, playing in 27 of 36 games in 2016-17, averaging 7.1 minutes per contest and scoring a career high six points twice.
With another offseason of hard work under his belt, the first 12 games of his senior season have been even more impressive.
Mumin was inserted into the starting lineup for the home game against Missouri on Nov. 30 and the Knights have gone 5-1 since. During that time, the native of Montenegro has played 19.3 minutes per game, averaging 6.3 points per contest and making 12-of-24 three-point attempts.
"To see where he started, to where he is now, is unbelievable," A.J. Davis said. "We talk about it all the time, be ready for your moment, and his time finally came. He was ready for that moment. Anybody who knows Georgie, knows he was ready for that day, and when that day came, he was prepared for it."
His breakout moment was his second outing as a starter. Mumin went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc for a career high 11 points as UCF defeated then No. 24 Alabama on the road. He followed that performance with another career high, going for 12 points on 4-of-7 from long distance in a win over Southern.
"It's why we're in it," Assistant Coach Robbie Laing said. "We want to see young men grow and prosper, and have some success."
After another six points on 2-of-4 from three-point range in a road win at Stetson on Tuesday, Head Coach Johnny Dawkins made it official. After practice on Wednesday, with the team huddled up, he announced to the group the Mumin had earned a scholarship.
"It was definitely a surprise," Mumin said of the moment. "[I was] speechless. I didn't know what to say. I was like 'wow.' It finally paid off, all the hard work and hours I put in. That was the best Christmas gift I ever received. Definitely."
With the start of American Athletic Conference play just around the corner, Mumin's thinking about his team in the moment.
"It's bigger than basketball," he said. "It's called passion…that we have for this game and for each other. It's a brotherhood. It's definitely something that will [be] lifetime memories."
The Knights (9-3) play at SMU on Dec. 27.
