Petrović came to the United States in 1990 and completed his scholastic career at North Penn High School.
He was hindered by a back injury his junior season but earned Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team honors.
As a senior, Petrović started 31 games, averaging 6.9 points and 5.2 rebounds for the squad that reached the 1997 NCAA Division I Sweet 16 after winning the 1997 Atlantic 10 tournament.
In the 1996–97 season, Petrović was a GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, an A-10 All-Academic honoree, and was the recipient of the Harry Merrill Sportsmanship Award from the Philadelphia Big 5.
[3] After being hospitalized with an illness in early June 2008, Petrović suffered from what eventually became a viral infection affecting his lungs and heart.