The start of NIL payment in college basketball has opened up a whole new world of talent acquisition as suddenly top European players are becoming recruiting targets.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself “there have always been European players in college basketball,” but this is different. In the past, it was the second or third tier of European players that didn’t have a great situation in Europe that would try their hand in the college game, but now with money on the table NCAA teams are attracting elite talent with professional experience who are positioned to come to college and contribute immediately.
Last season there were a lot of top players in the Big Ten and Big 12 that dabbled in top European talent, but the SEC largely stayed out of that game. This year, things are different–and as opposed to using available funds on top NCAA transfers, a number of teams prioritized European talent.
Here are some of the top incoming European players to the SEC that you need to be aware of.
Ilias Kamardine
Ole Miss
If you’re looking for someone to create a basket out of nothing, there isn’t much better than Ilias Kamardine who plays the game with electricity. Nothing looks routine or boring for Kamardine on the court who does everything with flair, and it makes for incredible highlights as he breaks down defenders with a tight dribble before coming up with creative finishes at the basket. He’s also a capable shooter, with good size for a ball handler. It’s also not just flash with Kamardine; it’s substance. Playing in the top pro league in France, Kamardine has proved his abilities at a high-level pro league that has great speed and athleticism which should have him prepared for the SEC.
Andrija Jelavić
Kentucky
Kentucky’s transfer portal class has gotten a lot of acclaim, and many people don’t realize they also brought in one of the top European talents in 6’11” forward Andrija Jelavic who competed in the very good Adriatic League for the last two seasons where he averaged over 11 points and 7 rebounds per game while hitting 30% of his threes. The Adriatic League is extremely competitive with a lot of seasoned pros, and Jelavic’s ability to be productive in that league suggests he’ll have no issues adjusting to the SEC.
Filip Jovic
Auburn
Jelavic’s teammate at KK Mega Filip Jovic is also coming to the SEC, and Auburn feels certain he is going to be a key player, focusing most of their resources on bringing him in as opposed to having a strong NCAA transfer portal class. Jovic is an athletic 6’8” forward who thrives on attacking the paint against slower defenders and his North-South style of play should suit the league perfectly.
Declan Duru
Texas
Duru really burst onto the scene competing for Germany in the U18 Eurobasket Championship where he showcased athleticism and toughness in his 6’8” frame. Duru spent last year with Real Madrid, one of the top teams in the world outside of the NBA, which means that he got great coaching and competitiveness in practice–but he didn’t see much game action. This makes him a bit more of an unknown as he comes to college basketball, but the fact he even got on the Real Madrid roster speaks to his potential.
Karim Rtail
Arkansas
A native of Lebanon, Rtail spent this past season in Lithuania where he showcased his guard skills at 6’7” handling the ball and knocking down open looks. A bit younger than a lot of the other international players coming to the SEC there might be a bit more of an adjustment period for Rtail, but he has great size and competed just fine in a physical Lithuanian League, so he has quite the ceiling at Arkansas.
Ruben Dominguez
Texas A&M
One of the most fun international players heading to the SEC is Ruben Dominguez who comes from Bilbao in the Spanish ACB, known to be the top domestic league in Europe. The 6’6” wing is known particularly for his three-point shooting as he hit 40% of his deep balls last year, and that shooting, size, and experience means you can pencil him in for a big role with production for the Aggies.
Andreas Holst
Oklahoma
Holst hails from Denmark where he played for the Bakken Bears, one of the top programs in that country historically. Standing at 7’0” you might expect him to be an interior player that leans on his size, but he’s known more as a skilled creator who will bounce the ball and create passing angles to find teammates. While he might not score it a lot, at least yet, he is a capable ball mover with a high IQ that can guard multiple spots and cause chaos with his length.