Overseas -> College Hoops

A list of guys I've seen who have recently committed to play college basketball next year

Below are some names to look out for next year who will be leaving their clubs overseas to bring their name to the spotlight in college basketball. Some of these are established pros who have multiple full seasons under their belt already and will make an immediate impact on their new teams. Leave a comment on some guys I missed!

Stefan Vaaks 6’6 190LBS (SG) (05/08/2005) (Estonia)

• BC Kalev/Carmo → Providence

Andrija Jelavic 6’10 224LBS (PF) (05/26/2004) (Croatia)

• KK Mega Bemax → Kentucky

Mihajlo Petrovic 6’3 (PG) (02/23/2003) (Serbia)

• KK Mega Bemax → Illinois

David Mirkovic 6’9 200lbs (PF) (01/06/2006) (Montenegro)

• Studentski Centar Podgorica → Illinois

Lefteris Mantzoukas 6’9 220LBS (PF) (07/08/2003) (Greece)

• Maroussi BC → Oklahoma State

Timotej Malovec 6’5 178LBS (SG) (04/25/2004) (Slovakia)

• KK Mega Bemax → Miami

Harun Zrno 6’7 205LBS (SG) (03/01/2004) (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

• KK Slavija → Rutgers

Denis-Stefan Badalau 6’8 187LBS (SF) (01/27/2006) (Romania)

• Dolomiti Energia Trento → Rutgers

Sananda Fru 6’11 245LBS (C) (08/28/2003) (Germany)

• Basketball Lowen Braunschweig → Louisville

Andrija Grbovic 6’8 185LBS (F) (09/16/2003) (Montenegro)

• Studentski Centar Podgorica → Arizona State

Ethan Bourgade 6’7 (F) (05/10/2004) (France)

• Union Tours Metropole Basket → Bryant

Martin Kalu 6’6 210LBS (G) (01/28/2005) (Germany)

• Basketball Lowen Braunschweig → Charleston

Alexander Richardson 6’9 231LBS (C) (09/09/2003) (Germany)

• Art Giants Dusseldorf → Loyola Chicago

Ilias Kamardine 6’4 180LBS (G) (10/01/2003) (France)

• JDA Dijon Basket → Ole Miss

Yohann Sissoko 6’2 (G) (05/06/2006) (France)

• ASVEL Basket → FAU

Guillermo Del Pino 6’4 183LBS (F) (01/12/2007) (Spain)

• Coto Cordoba CB → Maryland

Paul Kabenga Mbiya 6’10 220LBS (C) (04/11/2005) (Congo)

• ASVEL Basket → NC State

Mathis Courbon 6’5 (G) (01/28/2005) (France)

• Chorale Roanne Basket → Murray State

Omer Suljanovic 6’7 (F) (04/02/2005) (Austria)

• UCC Assigeco Piacenza → UC Davis

Frederik Erichsen 6’9 198LBS (F) (08/07/2006) (Denmark)

• Ratiopharm Ulm → Radford

Renè D'Amelio 6’7 (F) (07/01/2005) (Italy)

• Milano → Cal Bapist

Ladji Kante 6’3 (G) (01/15/2005) (France)

• Espoirs Chalon-Saone → Northern Illinois

Theo Airhienbuwa 6’6 198LBS (03/22/2006) (Italy)

• Tezenis Scaligera Verona → Tulsa

International Basketball is going through a major change right now. Colleges are offering these guys 7 figure deals to come over to college basketball and play a single season. They are making what they would’ve made in 3-5 years at their club in 9 months in the USA playing college basketball. There are already an influx of players leaving and I wonder what effect this will have on the level of International Basketball and the scouting process for High School Seniors. Maybe we’ll see more guys from the US start their careers overseas before eventually coming back over. Especially with the possibility of the NBA starting a new league in Europe this could help money wise attract young talent over there or keep young talent there until they are eligible for the draft.