In recent years, the college basketball negli United States has seen a growing wave of talent coming from theEurope, a trend that is changing the face of university recruitment. What was once an unthinkable path for young European prospects has now become a strategic choice, thanks to new economic opportunities and the possibility of developing as athletes.
Why do European players choose college basketball?
The answer is simple: money and visibility. European players can earn six or seven figures through contracts NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), far exceeding what they would earn in their first professional seasons in Europe.
“They can earn in one college season what they would earn in half their career in Europe,” has explained Avi Even, Director of Basketball Operations for Octagon Europe.
The expansion of international recruitment
A time limited to a few universities such as Gonzaga, Davidson and Saint Mary’s, international recruitment has rapidly spread, involving flagship programs such as Kentucky, Purdue and Louisville. A clear example is Mihailo Petrovic, a young Serbian point guard who, after being nominated MVP in the Adriatic League, will join Illinois next season.
The role of agents and agencies
Agents like Misko Raznatovic, famous for representing high-level players such as Nikola Jokic, are now actively exploring the American college market. Raznatovic, which once ignored college basketball, today represents between 35 and 50 college players.
“He didn’t even answer the phone for the NCAA before,” revealed Drazen Zlovarić, director of North American basketball for BeoBasket.
The debate on the eligibility rules
One of the main obstacles for international players has been meeting NCAA eligibility rules, which limited the ability to play to those who had already signed professional contracts. However, in recent years, those rules have become more flexible, allowing players to maintain their eligibility as long as they have received only “actual and necessary” expenses.
The impact on Europe: Professional clubs in difficulty
As European players find new opportunities in the United States, professional clubs in the Old World find themselves losing talent without compensation. Franchises like Maccabi Tel Aviv e FC Barcelona they see their best young players abandon their youth teams to land in American colleges, leaving a void that is difficult to fill.
“We can’t compete. We can’t even remotely offer the same returns,” He admitted Himar Ojeda, sporting director of Alba Berlin.
The Future of College Basketball: Increasingly Global
Season 2025-26 could be a turning point for American college basketball, with more and more European players ready to become protagonists. And while universities compete for these young talents, European basketball risks seeing an exodus of promises destined to become stars overseas.
College basketball has never been more global. And the next generation of talent looks set to move from the Old Continent to the American stage.