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Donald Trump fixing NIL in college? Here’s what could, should happen

Two-Minute Drill: Miami Grand Prix and longtime columnist retires The Miami Grand Prix will take place Sunday, May 4, at 4 p.m. at the Miami International Autodrome; Florida Times-Union columnist Gene Frenette retires. Is President Donald Trump about to tackle Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)? Trump is considering an executive order “that could increase scrutiny […]

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Is President Donald Trump about to tackle Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)?

Trump is considering an executive order “that could increase scrutiny of the explosion in payments to college athletes since 2021, according to the USA TODAY.

Trump met with legendary football coach Nick Saban late last week during the president’s trip to Tuscaloosa to speak at the University of Alabama’s commencement ceremonies.

Saban, who won a record seven national championships as a college football coach, has been a vocal opponent of the way NIL has been implemented.

USA TODAY Florida Network recruiting reporters Jon Santucci and Nick Wilson discussed the idea of Trump potentially getting involved with NIL and what ideas they have to make things better.

Should President Trump get involved with NIL?

Santucci: Let me give a politician’s answer and not really answer the question. Yes, I think the government should get involved and help bring some much-needed regulation. The idea of needing congressional oversight into this issue isn’t a new idea and it’s probably overdue. Do I favor the idea of President Trump issuing an executive order to fix NIL? After seemingly one conversation with Nick Saban, who is all-time great coach but no friend of NIL? No. And this isn’t about party affiliation. I just don’t like the idea of a sweeping mandate that won’t have nearly enough input or study to fix things — no offense to whatever Saban told the president. This has to be better than Trump and Saban deciding the future of NIL.

Wilson: From the Trump administration’s perspective, I can see the appeal in stepping in and providing order to the lawlessness that is college recruiting. But it’s probably a fool’s errand. The NCAA has proven its inability to govern that arena for over a decade now, so the idea that a 100-day old administration can fix things with a sweeping mandate seems unrealistic. Could this be something that the administration sees as an easy win, and not the can of worms it truly is?

What’s the biggest problem concerning NIL?

Santucci: Not having a time machine. The problem is the NCAA, which spent years fighting the idea of NIL rather than figuring out the best way to implement it. So, now we have the wild, wild west and it’s going to be awfully tough to get things under control. And you have a joke of an organization pretending to police it. Look, NIL was long overdue and I’m all for student-athletes getting to benefit from NIL. But most of what we call NIL is really a paycheck to play a sport. The vast majority of athletes aren’t working with Nike, McDonald’s or even a local pizza joint. They’re getting paid to play. Not exactly the spirit of NIL. Other than that, it’s created too much of a Have’s vs. Have Not’s. It’s always going to be there, but the NCAA tournament was a prime example, it’s pay to win. Maybe it always has been, but not having Cinderella dancing made the tournament a little less exciting and the future a little more concerning.

Wilson: NIL has a nasty connotation around it now, and that largely because of the culture surrounding it. Players are treated as commodities, whose values are locked into whatever they are at that point in their lives. We expect players to behave a certain way when universities and coaching staffs get away with a lot behind the scenes. It’s seen as fair game to criticize a player that enters the transfer portal or decommits, but there is often much more to the story. Many of these 16- and 17-year-olds are growing up in homes that make less that $100,000 a year, and suddenly find themselves in the middle of a bidding wars that often conclude north of half a million dollars … and these schools know it. Money is hurled at these families like candy and then we are shocked that players act accordingly by following the money for as long as they can. The “problems” concerning NIL stem from the tidal wave of money that has flooded the market, and the people who sign the checks.

What’s one suggestion you would make to help fix NIL?

Santucci: I’m an idealist, so I’d like to try to tackle both NIL and the transfer portal at the same time. So here we go. First, I would like to see a set number for incoming freshman. Just like most professional sports have a set contract that isn’t up for negotiation. You sign, you get a certain amount. There should be incentives built into the contract, but that would curb a lot of the issues of the haves and the have nots and money determining recruiting. Second, I would mandate a two-year minimum agreement between the school and the athlete. You can’t transfer after your first year and a school can’t get rid of you. I’m old school and I’d love to see more programs actually have to build their programs through solid recruiting and development. If you leave before two years, you have to sit out a year. That’s where I would start. Base pay for the first two years — you can add to that number through legitimate NIL deals — and see if that makes things any better. I’m also in favor of figuring out how to make student-athletes school employees, if for no other reason than it would help with the tax situation for teenagers without a lot of financial literacy.

Wilson: The market needs a serious reset. It’s incredibly unfair for us (as sports fans) to criticize student-athletes for doing exactly what any normal person would do — make the most amount of money that you can for as long as you can. If you want to change NIL, shift the focus to the universities’ coffers. Find a way for schools to spend more responsibly like using long-term contracts like Jon suggests, or implementing a good ole fashioned salary cap with an emphasis on roster building. It’s not a player’s responsibility to turn down more money if it is available to them somewhere else, and with no salary cap, schools with deep pockets can just keep raising the price until they get their guy … year after year. If a program has a limited amount to spend, they have to think about signing high school recruits and retaining their core, which means less wads of cash to hurl at an unsuspecting Group of Five All-Conference player.



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SEC Hypocrisy Is Richer Than Miami’s NIL Budget

Watching ex-SEC coaches and players—who were handing out duffel bags before NIL was a twinkle in the NCAA’s eye—whine about Miami’s bankroll is the kind of irony that should come with a laugh track. . www.on3.com Link 0

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Watching ex-SEC coaches and players—who were handing out duffel bags before NIL was a twinkle in the NCAA’s eye—whine about Miami’s bankroll is the kind of irony that should come with a laugh track.



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Wildcats to Open 2025-26 Against BYU in Las Vegas

Story Links PHOENIX (May 19, 2025) – Position Sports, in partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the matchups for the 2025 Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas on Monday, November 3, at T-Mobile Arena. The Hall of Fame Series returns to the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World […]

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PHOENIX (May 19, 2025) – Position Sports, in partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the matchups for the 2025 Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas on Monday, November 3, at T-Mobile Arena. The Hall of Fame Series returns to the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World for the third consecutive year following a successful event this past November.
 
For the second year in a row, the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas will showcase a reigning national champion, following last season’s appearance by the South Carolina women’s team. This doubleheader will spotlight the men’s national champion, Florida, as the Gators take on Arizona. In the second matchup, BYU—featuring consensus No. 1 incoming recruit A.J. Dybansta and former Las Vegas prep standout Xavion Staton—will face Villanova to officially tip off the 2025-26 college basketball season.
 
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas will go on sale on Friday, May 30, at 7:00 AM PT (10:00 AM ET) at HOFSeries.com.
 
“We’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as the Hall of Fame Series returns to Las Vegas and T-Mobile Arena for a third consecutive year,” said Melissa Meacham-Grossman, President of Position Sports. “Opening Night promises to deliver a tremendous start to the season, with defending national champion Florida tipping off their title defense and both games airing across TNT Sports’ national platforms. It’s an exciting way to showcase Las Vegas and celebrate the Hall of Fame’s impact on college basketball.”
 
Both games will be nationally televised across TNT Sports’ networks and platforms, with additional programming details to be announced. 
 
Further details regarding game times and media credentials for the doubleheader will be shared at a later date. 
 
The Hall of Fame Series, owned and operated by Position Sports, is a premier collection of multi-game, singular events that feature top collegiate basketball programs in high-profile non-conference matchups played both domestically and abroad. Past stops have included the following cities: Baltimore (2024), Charlotte (2023), Las Vegas (2023-24), New York (2024), Phoenix (2023-24), San Antonio (2023), and Toronto (2023).
 
For more Hall of Fame Series information and updates, please visit HOFSeries.com or follow @HOFSeries on all social platforms.
 




Arizona vs. Florida Series History

The Wildcats and Gators have split the four all-time matchups, with two of those games decided by a single point and another going to overtime. Arizona claimed the more recent meeting on December 15, 2012, in Tucson, edging Florida 65-64 after rallying from a six-point deficit in the final 58 seconds. The programs also faced off in a Hall of Fame event at the 2003 Tip-off Classic in Springfield, Mass. (Florida won, 78-77). 
 
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“Opening the season in the Hall of Fame Series against a team like Florida in Las Vegas is a tremendous opportunity for our program and our fans. I know T-Mobile Arena will be rocking that night, and we look forward to competing against one of the best teams in the country on opening night.”
Tommy Lloyd | Arizona
 




BYU vs. Villanova Series History

Villanova holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, with all three matchups taking place at neutral sites. The Wildcats earned a 72-58 victory in the first meeting on December 29, 1951, at the Sugar Bowl Tournament in New Orleans. The Cougars then posted a 102-93 overtime win on December 29, 1970, at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. Villanova won the most recent contest 91-61 on December 28, 1984, at the Cotton State-Kiwanis Classic in Atlanta.
 
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“One of our main focuses heading into the 2025-26 season was playing a tougher non-conference schedule, and the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas helps us achieve that. We are excited to open the season against Villanova at T-Mobile Arena in November and expect to see Cougar Nation out in full force.”
Kevin Young | BYU
 
“We’re looking forward to opening our 2025-26 season at the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas. BYU is an outstanding opponent with its own great basketball tradition. We’re honored to represent Villanova and the entire Nova Nation in the Hall of Fame Series.”
Kevin Willard | Villanova
 




Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas History

2023:
W: USC (83), Ohio State (74)
M: Oregon (82), Georgia (71)
W: Colorado (92), LSU (78)
M: USC (82), Kansas State (69)
 
2024:
W: South Carolina (68), Michigan (62)
M: Ohio State (80), Texas (72) 

 
About Position Sports
Position Sports, established in 2005, is a premium event production and brand marketing firm that specializes in event operations, activation development, media relations, and digital engagement. Over the years, Position Sports has worked with many of the world’s leading brands, including Nike, Jordan Brand, Red Bull, the Basketball Hall of Fame, ESPN Events, USA Basketball, Upper Deck, MLB, and T-Mobile in nearly every major U.S. city and on a global scale. Position Sports provides clients with the expanded strategic direction needed to succeed in the sports marketing arena, also known as Positioning. To learn more, visit positionsports.com or follow @positionsports on Twitter and Instagram.
 
About Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
 





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Dave Van Horn couldn’t ask for better out of SEC Tournament week for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorbacks got everything they need heading into this week’s SEC Tournament. No distractions For starters, it gets to finally be all about baseball. No tests and no rushing to a computer after a game to submit a project before the midnight deadline. Also, since the tournament is multiple states away, theoretically […]

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorbacks got everything they need heading into this week’s SEC Tournament.

No distractions

For starters, it gets to finally be all about baseball. No tests and no rushing to a computer after a game to submit a project before the midnight deadline.

Also, since the tournament is multiple states away, theoretically there is no pressure to find ways to spend time with girlfriends and make them happy, nor buddies trying to convince them to hang out until 2 a.m.

Regular work week

Also, since the Hogs took care of business against Tennessee this past weekend, there is minimal disruption to the typical weekly baseball routine. Arkansas can stick to its normal practice schedule, plus take in a few games, before settling in to play a typical Friday through Sunday series schedule.

Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn isn’t having to sort out how to unnaturally stretch his pitching staff or figure out when to rest his catcher. He gets to plan things like any other SEC series.

If the Razorbacks play their cards right, Van Horn wouldn’t have to deal with such stress on himself and his pitching rotation until the College World Series in Omaha. Avoiding that kind of strain so late into a potential national title run is priceless.

No need to stress

The big thing is there’s no pressure on Arkansas this week. If the Hogs win Friday, then that’s great. 

It keeps them in a natural rhythm. If they don’t, well, the right to host a super regional is already theoretically locked up and there isn’t a team that will be in the SEC quarterfinals bad enough to change that by beating the Razorbacks a single time.

Arkansas faces either Florida, South Carolina or Ole Miss, all of which will have already burned through at least one starter and most likely multiple relievers. The Hogs swept South Carolina, lost 2-of-3 at Florida and opened the SEC slate by taking two out of three against the Rebels.

No Texas unless for championship

Should the Razorbacks win their opener, they likely face LSU for the right to play in the SEC championship game. If all goes as expected, the Longhorns will be there waiting.

Now, it might seem odd to list not playing Texas until the very end as a positive considering how easily the Razorbacks dispatched what was then the nation’s No. 1 team in a much needed sweep in Fayetteville. However, the Longhorns aren’t regular season SEC champions for nothing.

This won’t be a night game in front of a packed house of rabid Arkansas fans. It will be a rather docile atmosphere in the early afternoon on a neutral site with the possibility of the overall No. 1 seed on the line.

There’s no doubt the Razorbacks could make it four in a row, but why waste the pitching capital on the Longhorns unless there’s something on the line?

The real victory

Whether Arkansas makes it there and wins the SEC Tournament is of little consequence.

The real win would be getting back to Fayetteville with no injuries and confidence still intact. If that’s the case, it will have been the perfect business trip for Van Horn and his Hogs.

• Razorbacks waited three years to return to supers; four-hour rain delay no match

• Cisse has breakout potential in Petrino’s offensive scheme

• LIVE UPDATES: Arkansas run-rules Oklahoma State; advances to Super Regional

• Arkansas familiar with all three potential SEC quarterfinal opponents

• Razorbacks’ defensive back will not return for final season



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David Pollack voices harsh criticism of Jackson Cantwell’s reported NIL deal

Even though it has been a week since five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell announced his commitment to Miami (FL), the discourse surrounding this decision has not slowed down. Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart was one of the first people to indirectly comment on Cantwell’s decision, saying that he would never pay an incoming freshman […]

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Even though it has been a week since five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell announced his commitment to Miami (FL), the discourse surrounding this decision has not slowed down.

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart was one of the first people to indirectly comment on Cantwell’s decision, saying that he would never pay an incoming freshman more than his seniors. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal seemingly had a response to this comment from Smart where he claimed Cantwell’s decision had nothing to do with NIL.

While that is something Cristobal obviously has to say, it does not mean it is true. Cantwell reportedly will be making $5 million at Miami over his first two seasons with the Hurricanes, which was a substantial increase from what was originally reported. So there is no chance this didn’t impact his decision, and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that it did.

College football fans and experts will likely continue talking about this decision and NIL as a whole all offseason, and that includes former Georgia legend David Pollack who shared his thoughts on Cantwell’s NIL deal.

“I’m not spending $2 million on an offensive lineman.”

David Pollack does not agree with Jackson Cantwell’s NIL deal

Before people claim that Pollack is only saying this because he is biased, it is worth noting that Georgia offered Cantwell around $2 million as well, so this statment has nothing to do with Pollack potentially being upset Cantwell didn’t go to Georgia.

Regardless, there is a lot of truth to this statement for one big reason, offensive linemen hardly ever play as true freshman. Offensive linemen arguably have the most difficult jump to make from high school to college football, and that is the case with the best of the best prospects like Cantwell. So in all honesty, there is a great chance that Cantwell won’t see the field as a true freshman during the 2026 season.

But that doesn’t matter when it comes to his NIL deal, because Miami will still be paying him $2.5 million whether he is playing on the field or riding the bench. Some would argue this is the price teams have to pay to get a recruit of Cantwell’s stature, but from Georgia’s perspective they don’t need to do that.

Georgia has been able to sign top two recruiting classes year after year while getting these recruits to come to Athens at a discount, so if Cantwell wants to get as much money as he can right now then more power to him.

Time will tell if this was a good investment for Miami or not, but there is a chance that this money ends up being a waste.





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Make way for the Euro Invasion: Why more international stars are choosing college basketball over the pros

CHICAGO — Vlad Goldin is a trailblazer, of sorts. The Michigan big man, a Voronezh, Russia, native, left his home country almost six years ago to come to the United States to chase his hoop dreams. He didn’t see his parents, Alexander and Lubov, for nearly five years while he jetted from Putnam to Lubbock […]

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CHICAGO — Vlad Goldin is a trailblazer, of sorts. The Michigan big man, a Voronezh, Russia, native, left his home country almost six years ago to come to the United States to chase his hoop dreams. He didn’t see his parents, Alexander and Lubov, for nearly five years while he jetted from Putnam to Lubbock to Boca Raton to Ann Arbor. 

The allure of college basketball’s bright lights drew Goldin to the United States, but he also believed it was his best chance to parlay that into an opportunity to play in the NBA. That bet proved wise. After a dominant senior season at Michigan, Goldin earned a spot in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. His professional career is already firmly underway, but it will shift into overdrive in under six weeks when Goldin finds out which NBA franchise he’s suiting up for.

Posted up alone at a table 10 feet to Goldin’s right sits Neoklis Avdalas. The Greek wing, who turned 19 years old in February, offers a bit of a reminder of Goldin’s past and a glimpse at how much things are changing.

Avdalas played well in multiple scrimmages last week in front of NBA decision-makers, but the 6-foot-8 wing is not a lock to get drafted. He’s already taken visits to Baylor and Virginia Tech as he prepares to pivot to college basketball if he doesn’t get a guaranteed contract. Avdalas is not alone. There are a whopping 34 international prospects currently committed to high-major teams, and Avdalas is one of numerous big-name free agents who could be needle-moving additions for a college basketball team in the coming weeks. 

There’s a real possibility that the final number of international players at the high-major ranks soars past 40 next season. And that’s not counting mid-major programs, like St. Bonaventure, who has become an attractive destination, too.

“I think it’s great for the sport to mix American athleticism with European minds,” said Florida star Walter Clayton Jr.

The Balkan Brothers

Tomislav Ivisic averaged 13 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in 2024-25. 
Getty Images

In a way, Illinois is the face of the new era of international recruiting that Gonzaga used to dominate. Lithuanian star Kasparas Jakucionis was one of the best freshmen guards in the country this past season at Illinois. Instead of wading into the transfer portal market last spring, Illinois targeted Croatian center Tomislav Ivisic out of the Adriatic League to fill its massive frontcourt void. That turned out to be one of the best return-on-investment moves of the entire 2024 roster-building cycle. No Big Ten big man made more 3s than Ivisic (55). Illinois gets him for a second season and he’s also firmly on 2026 NBA Draft radars now.

Win, win, win.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood has ramped it up into overdrive this spring. Illinois landed Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrovic and Montenegrin forward David Mirkovic from the international market this spring. Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic transferred to Illinois to play with Tomislav, his twin brother. Oh, and that international flair is another big reason why Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic opted to pick the Illini over North Carolina. Andrej’s father, Peja, is one of the best Serbian hoopers in NBA history. 

Illinois trotting out a Petrovic-Stojakovic-Mirkovic-Ivisic-Ivisic lineup is not likely, mostly due to perimeter defensive questions, but it’s not impossible, either, to the chagrin of copy editors everywhere. 

“It’s pretty cool to see that Illinois has started recruiting more and more Europeans,” Jakucionis told CBS Sports. “Before me, before Tomislav, it wasn’t a lot of European guys going over to Illinois. That was a bit of a risky decision for me, but I’m really happy I made that choice. They trusted me. I trusted them. Now, you can see their trust in European players.”

Balkan Brad, indeed.

Underwood’s merry band of Balkan Brothers has become a real talking point in college basketball circles, even at the NBA Draft Combine. Auburn All-American Johni Broome joined Goldin in bringing up Illinois’ roster build unprompted. They’re both fascinated by how a European-heavy roster will fare in the Big Ten.

Illinois did not just magically become the kingpin of international recruiting. Illinois assistants Orlando Antigua and Geoff Alexander have racked up serious frequent-flyer miles to make inroads in the global market. Alexander scouted Jakucionis for three years before he suited up in the orange and blue. Antigua had ties to the Ivisic family for years, dating back to when he helped Kentucky land Zvonimir ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. 

“It’s been a lot of work, a lot of miles, a lot of stamps on the passport,” Alexander told Illini Inquirer last November. “Just being over there in front of them, being at every event that we’re allowed to and then some more … I treat it like its own AAU circuit, like the EYBL. Just like we evaluate the 16s and 17s and watch them. I think you got to do the same over there.”

Money talks

The money boom in college basketball is behind all of this. Some college teams can pay up to 10 times what European clubs offer. In the early days, international products like Goldin (and Purdue’s Zach Edey) had to finagle ways to legally earn money off Name, Image and Likeness. Having the correct visa was vital and often hard to get.

With pay-for-play here to stay, the top talents from the international scene are flocking to the United States to cash in and follow the blueprint set by Jakucionis, Ivisic, Goldin and BYU’s Egor Demin.

It’s also offered college basketball programs another avenue to build a roster that’s not quite as costly. In the salary-cap age, every dollar matters and some teams have found international recruiting to be a way to thread the needle and tap into a market inefficiency. The A-tier names in the portal, high school ranks and international frontier are commanding serious dough, but there is no discount in the middle class of the transfer portal where a rock-solid, 3-and-D role player can also command over seven figures.

With international recruiting skyrocketing, the money will certainly go up, but most in college basketball circles still believe that it’s still third in the pecking order, cost-wise, for now.

💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰 The transfer portal 

💰💰💰💰💰Traditional high school/prep recruiting

💰💰💰💰 International

💰 Junior College

💰 Division II, III, NAIA

‘The stock rises’

A Frenchman has been the No. 1 overall pick in back-to-back NBA Drafts (Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher). That is going to change next month when the Dallas Mavericks select Duke’s Cooper Flagg, barring something cataclysmic. Jakucionis, Demin and Duke big man Khaman Maluach are expected to be the highest-drafted international products in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Twelve months ago in early 2025 lookaheads, that was not the case. Dazzling French point guard Nolan Traore and Spain wing Hugo Gonzalez were regarded as top-10 picks for the 2025 NBA Draft, ahead of Jakucionis and Demin.

Jakucionis took a bit of a risk leaving an opportunity with FC Barcelona to play at Illinois, but he’s seemingly jumped Traore in the pecking order. 

BYU paid a hefty buyout (and another steep NIL agreement on top of that) to get Demin, a Russian prodigy, to leave Real Madrid for Provo. 

Gonzalez was another BYU target, but he chose to stay at Real Madrid, where he’s struggled to get real playing time for one of the top Euro League clubs. Maybe the flip-flop would have happened regardless, but it’s clear that college basketball helped both Demin and Jakucionis cement themselves as lottery-pick-caliber guards, while the lack of consistent playing time has certainly hurt Gonzalez’s stock.

The top international talents have taken notice of the recent trends.

“The stock rises,” Avdalas says. “Everybody is here in the U.S. can see you play and watch you. It would be a great step for me if I can’t make it (to the NBA) right now. It’s a new thing for Europeans. I looked around and I was like, ‘I want to do it too.’ All the guys from college can make it to the NBA.”

Leaving home is hard and not for everybody. Even with an up-and-down year, Traore is going to be a first-round pick. Maybe he’s not a top-5 pick anymore, but the 6-foot-5 point guard’s appeal and talent are so obvious. Choosing to stay close to family in France instead of playing for Gonzaga, Duke or Alabama was not an egregious decision by any means. Seven-foot-3 Australian center Rocco Zikarsky chose to play for the NBL’s Brisbane Bullets instead of the college route. He’s a candidate to go in the second round.

“I’m a homebody,” Zikarsky told CBS Sports. “I watched the NBL growing up. When that became an option for me, it crept into my mind that I would love to play for a team that I watched growing up. I got to play with Aron Baynes who was one of my idols growing up. That was really special. But the money now is insane at college. The college market is getting blown out. That can set people up for a long time. I think it’s great that internationals are making their way over. Although my preference was the NBL, other guys have other preferences. I think it’s a really positive step for basketball overall.”

But Australians like Florida’s Alex Condon and ex-Kansas wing Johnny Furphy have showcased what’s possible at the college ranks. 

That left an imprint on coveted Australian shooting guard Ben Henshall, who was also a strong performer at the NBA Draft Combine. Henshall noted that he’s “locked in” on trying to get drafted, but if he chooses the college route, title contenders like Texas Tech and Florida are hot in pursuit.

“Being in the states, there’s a lot more scouts around,” Henshall says. “I don’t feel like a lot of these guys got to see me in Australia. The money is crazy right now, but it has a lot to do with more exposure here.”

Who’s actually good and who’s next?

The consensus is that college basketball has become the second-best league in the world, behind the NBA, so it’s natural that college basketball roster-building has started to emulate the NBA’s scour-the-globe approach.

Henshall and Avdalas are serious high-major targets, but Italian wing Dame Sarr may be the best free agent on the board right now, right next to the biggest names in the transfer portal like Darrion Williams, PJ Haggerty, Boogie Fland, Jamir Watkins or RJ Luis. Kansas was in pole position for the sleek, 6-foot-8 stud, but when Duke commit Cedric Coward started blowing up at the NBA Draft Combine, coach Jon Scheyer pivoted to make Sarr a massive priority.

Sarr has not made a decision yet, but he’s going to be at a blue blood next year for a reason.

Montenegrin wing Luka Bogavac, who will turn 22 in September, is another major name to know. He could be a significant needle-moving addition for wing-needy teams late in the process. Mario Saint-Supery is a Spanish point guard who is firmly entrenched with Gonzaga. Virginia has its sights set on Thijs De Ridder, a 22-year-old Belgian stud, who could team up with German product Johann Grünloh to give new Cavaliers coach Ryan Odom one of the best frontcourts in the ACC next season.

Those are just the new names to stack on top of a group of international products that will have a serious imprint on college basketball next season. 

  • If Illinois wants to be one of the Big Ten’s best, Mirkovic and Petrovic need to be trusty rotation players, at minimum. 
  • Washington has loaded up in the portal, headlined by USC transfer Wesley Yates III and East Tennessee State stud Quimari Peterson, but German 19-year-old forward Hannes Steinbach will have a major say in whether Danny Sprinkle’s group competes for an at-large bid in Year 2. 
  • Louisville has its sights set on a special 2025-26. It can’t happen without 6-foot-11 big man Sananda Fru being an impact player. The German star will turn 22 in August, so he’s no typical freshman.

“(Fru) is different,” said Penn State big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who grew up in Switzerland and played in Germany in 2021-22 before coming over to the U.S. to hoop at Northern Illinois. “I really like his game. I think he’s going to be a big problem for the NCAA.”

None of this is ending any time soon. International clubs, especially in Europe, are scrambling to figure out ways to keep talent close to home, but money talks. The NCAA is scrambling to figure out eligibility red tape. Tomislav Ivisic was ruled a sophomore when he got cleared last summer. Illinois is not expecting Petrovic, who just turned 22, to have four years of eligibility. Fru will very likely not be ruled as a freshman with four years of eligibility. 

In a way, dozens of international imports are closer to transfer portal additions than traditional freshmen. 

🏀 5 international hoopers you need to know

Dame Sarr 🇮🇹 Uncommitted High-flying, two-way wing who will play in the NBA soon.
Neoklis Avdalas 🇬🇷 Uncommitted Sleek 6-foot-8 wing handler who can shoot it and find a role on any roster.
Johann Grunloh 🇩🇪 Virginia Sweet-shooting 7-footer who can protect the rim.
Sananda Fru 🇩🇪 Louisville Mobile big man who offers serious defensive appeal.
Ben Henshall 🇦🇺 Uncommitted Shooting guard with real positional size and a strap.

Goldin must only laugh at the new reality. He certainly was not the first European player to leave home to play college basketball, but the ecosystem that Goldin entered and the college basketball sphere that he is exiting couldn’t be farther apart.

“It’s beautiful,” Goldin says. “It’s exploring basketball. There are different styles of basketball. Illinois is going to have such a different style this year because they have like so many international guys. I think it just makes it better. You can turn on a game and see something you haven’t seen before. I’m all for it. I love it.”





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Oregon Ducks Athletics Win Incredible 8th Big Ten Title With Baseball, Track Victorie

The Oregon Ducks wrapped up their first athletic calendar year as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It was a year of transition as Oregon had previously been in the Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 for over a half century. Being in the Big Ten, Oregon faced off against teams all across the country. It made for a […]

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The Oregon Ducks wrapped up their first athletic calendar year as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It was a year of transition as Oregon had previously been in the Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 for over a half century.

Being in the Big Ten, Oregon faced off against teams all across the country. It made for a hectic travel schedule but that didn’t seem to phase the Ducks. Oregon finished the year winning eight different Big Ten championships across numerous sports. 

Dec 7, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks celebrate defeating the Penn Sta

Dec 7, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks celebrate defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions to win the Big Ten Championship in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks finished at the top of the Big Ten in eight sports. Oregon won the Big Ten in football, baseball, softball, men’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, women’s cross country, and women’s golf. 

The driving force of what has caused the conference realignment across collegiate sports is football. In Oregon’s first year in the Big Ten, they won the conference title. The Ducks ran the table in the regular season, going a perfect 12-0. This set up a Big Ten championship game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. 

Oregon took care of business against Penn State, winning their first Big Ten conference football championship in their first season. The season did not end how Oregon wanted, as after earning the No. 1 spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, they fell in the quarterfinals to Ohio State at the Rose Bowl. 

The season should still be considered a massive success. Additionally, after the season, Oregon had a program record 10 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ducks also landed the No. 2 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports. 

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Oregon’s Carter Garate (3) reacts after hitting a grand slam against Iowa during a Big Ten conference baseball game May 15, 2

Oregon’s Carter Garate (3) reacts after hitting a grand slam against Iowa during a Big Ten conference baseball game May 15, 2025 at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks baseball and softball team each won their respective Big Ten championships. The Ducks baseball team clinched the Big Ten title over the weekend in their sweep over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Oregon’s softball team took home the Big Ten title two weeks prior.

Both will look to keep their dreams alive of making the College World Series in the coming days. Oregon softball walked it off over Stanford on Sunday night to secure a spot in the Super Regional. Oregon baseball on the other hand is getting ready to play in the Big Ten tournament .

Oregon’s Pat Vialva, carries the Big Ten Trophy during day three of the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May

Oregon’s Pat Vialva, carries the Big Ten Trophy during day three of the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 18, 2025, at Hayward Field in Eugene. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks have established themselves as a premier program in track and field. The Oregon men won the Big Ten title in both indoor and outdoor track and field. The women won the Big Ten in indoor track and field.

Additionally, Oregon’s women’s cross country and golf teams also were able to bring home Big Ten championships. Overall, the Ducks could not have asked for a better first year in this conference.



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