PROVO, Utah — Arguably the first foreign basketball player to make a big impact in U.S. competition, Kresimir Cosic had his jersey retired by BYU during a ceremony at halftime of the Cougars' game with New Mexico on Saturday night, March 4.

Photo by Jason Olson

During ceremony honoring Kresimir Cosic, his daughter Ana reads family response standing next to her mother, Ljerka. Also listening are President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency, left, and BYU President Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. of the Seventy.

The unorthodox, freestyle play of the 6-foot-11-inch center from Zadar, Yugoslavia, filled the 22,000-seat Marriott Center, opened during his second season in 1971. He filled it again with fans who honored him with a rousing ovation as his jersey, emblazoned with his name and No. 11, was unfurled for the first time from the building's rafters. It now hangs with those of Danny Ainge and Tina Gunn, the only other BYU basketball players to have their jerseys retired. Criteria at BYU to be so honored includes earning first-team all-America honors, recording significant accomplishments after graduation and being a faithful member of the Church or other religious affiliation.

President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, summed up feelings for Brother Cosic in comments during the ceremony: "He was a wonderful basketball player, but also a great man and a great servant of our Heavenly Father."

Cancer claimed Brother Cosic's life in 1995. His widow, Ljerka, traveled from her native Croatia to participate in the ceremony. She was joined in the spotlight at center court by their three children — Ana, Iva and Kresimir.

Speaking for the family was Ana, a BYU graduate, who expressed gratitude to fans in attendance even though, she acknowledged, for most of them, her father is known only through their parents. Her father loved Croatia, she added, "but Provo forever remained his second home."

Mrs. Cosic showed her emotions throughout the ceremony and afterward. In an interview, Ana said her mother, who doesn't speak English, is always emotional when her husband is honored in Croatia where he is a national hero. But, Ana continued, "The fact it is here, so far away, and he's still not forgotten, that really touches her."

Also participating in the jersey-retirement were BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. of the Seventy, BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe, and Steve Kelly, one of Brother Cosic's teammates, and Glenn Potter, one of his coaches. President Samuelson read a tribute from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve who wasn't able to attend because of other commitments. Elder Oaks was BYU president during Brother Cosic's playing days.

Brother Cosic, who joined the Church during his BYU days, turned aside lucrative offers to play professional basketball in the U.S. to return to his homeland. There he led the national basketball team to international prominence while participating in government and paving the way for the gospel to take root in the formerly communist country.

President Monson reminisced about traveling to the former Yugoslavia where Brother Cosic was his interpreter at the dedication of the first meetinghouse in Zagreb, and also served as interpreter as President Monson offered a prayer to dedicate the land of Yugoslavia for the preaching of the gospel.

President Monson said, "Kresimer Cosic was most influential in bringing to pass this event. He opened the way to win the hearts of his countrymen just as he won the hearts of each one of us."

To read more about Brother Cosic, please see Church News, Jan. 21, 2006, pages 8-10.

E-mail: ghill@desnews.com