If Ivana Mandic's transition from JUCO to Division I basketball is just as smooth as her cultural adjustment from Yugoslavia to America, the 6-4 post player should fare well as a Charlotte 49er.

Born in Bosnia in 1979, Mandic moved to Serbia when she was 13 when civil war broke out in Yugoslavia. She gained a thick skin by living on her own from that age until she went to Daytona, Fla. to play basketball in 1999.

Having played amateur basketball since the age of nine, Mandic set out to play basketball in the United States at the college level to improve her game.

Mandic said that the transition was not hard outside of basketball. She had knew a good amount of English before arriving at Daytona Beach and her experiences on her own had helped her cope with the new culture.

On the court she had to adapt to a new style of basketball.

At Daytona Beach Community College, Mandic had modest offensive numbers. She started occasionally for the Falcons and had few breakout games.

Mandic's offensive numbers in community college were insignificant. Mandic admits she was used more as a defensive stopper, playing more in the low post than she would have liked.

Dennis Cox, coach of Daytona Beach, said this was because the team was full of post players who had went on to transfer to major Division I colleges and that Mandic had to adjust to the American style of play.

"It took time for her to adjust to the fast pace of our game," said Cox.

Mandic contends that American basketball is less team oriented than European style, in that overseas ball focuses less on dribbling and more on passing. She said that this Charlotte team is similar to that style than Daytona Beach.

It is also harder to get away with a cheap shot in American basketball.

"Over here you have three refs and that third ref is looking at every detail, so you can't really hit a player," said Mandic. "Over there post players hit on each other; they do everything to get the ball."

Cox admitted to not really bringing out the best in Mandic. Off the court the two had a great relationship, but on the court he said he couldn't get her to play confidently.

"If she can get confidence at Charlotte, get off to a good start and believe in herself and her coaches, then I think there's a player dying to get out," he said. "We know there's a player in there, but that player never really came out here through the course of her two seasons."

In her time at Daytona, Mandic helped lead the team to a state championship game as a freshman and a conference title her second year.

But it was her performance in a tournament overseas that led to the Charlotte coaching staff coveting her as a recruiting target.

Mandic recalled that she hadn't played for two months prior to the tournament and had a great performance.

Afterwards, she received a call from Charlotte coach Katie Meier.

"She told me they really liked me," recalled Mandic jokingly. "I was very surprised because they never seen me play and they told me they really liked me. I was like OK."

Little did she know that assistant coach Stephanie McCormick had watched the tournament and reported to Meier what she saw.

Mandic was impressed with Meier on the phone, so much that she nearly made up her mind before actually visiting Charlotte or any other colleges.

Meier was interested in signing Mandic, but was also recruiting another foreign post player.

Meier told Mandic that she was recruiting the other player and that the earlier Mandic committed, the better her chances of playing for Charlotte.

"We told her, 'Hey, we really want you but we can't afford not to find someone,'" said Meier. "It wasn't a threat, we just didn't know how things would shake down."

Mandic understood Meier's position of wanting her to sign early and made it official after visiting Morehead College.

"I think Ivi was a real significant sign for us," said Meier. "Junior college players don't sign early often. I really respect that she didn't want to lose Charlotte."

While Mandic's signing was announced last November, her teammate at Daytona Beach, LaShanta Johnson, was teetering on which college she would attend.

Having been recruited by N.C. State out of high school and at Daytona Beach, Johnson's stock with the Wolfpack dwindled after she gave birth one month prior to her sophomore season and uncertainty existed concerning the completion of her coursework.

Meier insists that the signing of Mandic was not an effort to lure Johnson along with her.

"Some schools do that when there is one stud and then they get the package deal," she said. "That is not the situation here. It was too important that we sign quality kids for us to make deals like that."

While on a visit to Daytona Beach to watch Mandic play, they recognized Johnson and told her that Charlotte would offer her a scholarship if N.C. State fell through. Johnson would accept the offer.

Roommates at Daytona Beach and now roommates at Charlotte, Mandic feels comfortable playing with Johnson.

"I really like that I am sure about her," Mandic said. "If I'm looking for someone to shoot the three then I'm going to give it to her."

Meier said that Mandic will bring maturity to a team that lacks experience in the post. She passes effectively and moves without the ball well.

"Things click when Ivi's on the court," said Meier.

In the 49ers' exhibition game against the Charlotte Stars Monday night, Mandic led all players off the bench with 10 points after shooting 5-for-10. She also grabbed five boards and blocked two shots, battling the likes of Rhonda Mapp, a WNBA player and Jackie Fields, a former Clemson standout.

"Ivi is going to bring a big presence to Charlotte," said Cox. "She still has some developing to do, but she has a great work ethic and keeps getting better."

Mandic said that Charlotte is the perfect fit for her, as she strives to improve her game so she can play professionally in Italy, Greece or Spain.