NIL

Gophers add seventh

Gophers women’s basketball announced on Friday that they’ve added San Jose State transfer forward Finau Tonga to their 2025-26 roster. Listed at 6-foot-2, Tonga averaged 8.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game on 58.1% shooting from the field last season for the Spartans. She played in 27 total games, and she started 16 […]

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1 month ago

June 7, 2025

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Gophers women’s basketball announced on Friday that they’ve added San Jose State transfer forward Finau Tonga to their 2025-26 roster.

Listed at 6-foot-2, Tonga averaged 8.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game on 58.1% shooting from the field last season for the Spartans. She played in 27 total games, and she started 16 of them.

“We are elated to have Finau join our family here at the University of Minnesota,” head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said in a release. “Finau has demonstrated the ability to score around the rim and does it at a very efficient level. Finau will provide us size, experience and depth to the post position. She is also very eager to begin working out and we believe that she will continue to develop and expand her game. We are excited to have Finau and the Tonga family here in Dinkytown!”

Tonga began her college career in 2019-20 at Division I St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. She played in 14 total games across two seasons before transferring to Salt Lake Community College. She played two seasons at the junior college level before making the jump back to the Division I level at San Jose State.

Related: Analyst ranks Gophers women’s basketball as top 20 team heading into next season

The 2025-26 season will be her seventh of college basketball. She played three games during the 2019-20 season and only five games in the 2023-24 season, which likely resulted in her being granted some extra eligibility. She joins Kansas State guard Brylee Glenn and UAB forward Tracey Bershers as Minnesota’s third addition from the transfer portal this offseason.

With the addition of Tonga, Minnesota now has 15 players projected to be on next season’s roster, which would be the limit. In what will be a pivotal season for Plitzuweit and her staff, the Gophers’ roster is seemingly finalized.

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CFB Rev-Sharing Creates Questions – Front Office Sports

Morning Edition July 8, 2025 The NCAA’s revenue-sharing era is off with a bang. It also amplifies long-held questions: Are college athletes employees? And how long before private equity plays a big role in funding programs? —David Rumsey, Eric Fisher, and Colin Salao Lubbock Avalanche-Journal College athletes are starting to get paid big money directly […]

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22 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

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Front Office Sports - The Memo

Morning Edition

July 8, 2025

The NCAA’s revenue-sharing era is off with a bang. It also amplifies long-held questions: Are college athletes employees? And how long before private equity plays a big role in funding programs?

—David Rumsey, Eric Fisher, and Colin Salao

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

College athletes are starting to get paid big money directly from their schools now that the revenue-sharing era is here. But will this new landscape bring structure to college sports, or will the shifting industry remain more like the Wild West?

“The $1 billion question is: Are these athletes employees? If the schools want that answer to be no, then they’re going to have to be very, very careful how they structure these contracts,” Will Hall, a Florida-based sports and entertainment attorney for law firm Jones Walker, told Front Office Sports.

Those revenue-sharing contracts are already reaching staggering numbers, like the three-year, $5.1 million deal Texas Tech is giving five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo. The Red Raiders’ spending spree appears to be extending into the future, too, as they are now reportedly the favorite to land edge rusher LaDamion Guyton, currently the No. 1–ranked prospect in the 2027 recruiting class, according to Rivals.

NIL Collectives Face Uncertain Future

Before revenue-sharing became legal with the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, players like Ojo and Guyton would have had to rely on NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals to make money in college.

Now, the NIL collectives that funded top programs’ $20 million football rosters last season are changing how they do business. “An NIL collective will have to look very different than it has in the past few years,” said Hall, who previously helped set up and advise the first NIL collective at Florida State. Many Power 4 schools have closed their NIL collectives entirely.

Hall points to the newly created NIL Go clearinghouse run by the burgeoning College Sports Commission, which will have a vetting process to ensure NIL deals offered by boosters and collectives are fair-market value, and not pay-for-play. “If it has teeth, then, yes, 100%, the idea of an NIL collective as we know it should go away,” he said.

What About Private Equity?

The start of the revenue-sharing era has coincided with interest from private-equity firms entering college sports.

While the Big 12 opted against bringing in PE at the conference level, sports business consultancy Elevate launched a $500 million initiative to infuse institutional capital directly into college sports, and Boise State is actively considering bringing PE investment into the Broncos’ athletic department.

Despite the uptick in activity, veteran sports lawyer Mike Rueda told FOS “it’s a bit early to tell” whether PE firms investing in college athletic departments would be a profitable exercise like the PE investments in NFL franchises are widely believed to be.

“We’re still trying to figure out how this is going to work,” said Rueda, who is the head of U.S. sports and entertainment at London-headquartered international law firm Withers.

ESPN’s long-term future with MLB remains decidedly uncertain, but the Disney-owned network is leaving it all on the field, bringing one of its biggest stars to Atlanta next week to be part of Home Run Derby pre-event coverage.

The Pat McAfee Show will broadcast live from the Coca-Cola Roxy, adjacent to Truist Park, the afternoon of July 14—hours before ESPN shows MLB’s Home Run Derby which annually represents one of the network’s top pieces of primetime programming of the entire summer.

The presence of Pat McAfee in Atlanta will be joined by a series of other programming plans surrounding the Home Run Derby, including a Georgia stop in the SportsCenter “50 States in 50 Days” content initiative, a pre-Derby episode of Baseball Tonight, and a return of an alternate, Statcast-based production of the event.

The main Derby broadcast will again be led by Karl Ravech and Eduardo Pérez, along with former MLB star Todd Frazier, who won the event 10 years ago while playing for the Reds. That competition was the first Derby to feature a timed format, which helped reinvigorate the event and served as a forerunner of sorts for the pitch clock the league introduced two years ago.

McAfee has had a featured role in many other key ESPN productions, as he stands alongside Stephen A. Smith as one of the network’s top personalities, and his broadcasting from Atlanta further signifies the importance of the Derby to ESPN.

Last year’s Derby from Arlington, Texas, averaged 5.45 million viewers, down 11% from 2023’s event, as it competed with the 2024 Republican National Convention. The full, eight-player field for this year’s Derby has not been finalized, but confirmed competitors thus far include the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, Nationals outfielder James Wood, and Twins outfielder Byron Buxton.

ESPN, meanwhile, has re-engaged with MLB about a potentially restructured rights relationship after previously signaling its intent to walk away from the league after the 2025 season. The outcome of those talks remains uncertain, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has said he intends to have the rights situation determined by next week’s All-Star Game.

UFC and outspoken president Dana White have staged competitions in plenty of unique places, including the Sphere in Las Vegas and a temporary, open-air arena in the United Arab Emirates. The latest notion, however, could be UFC’s most dramatic and controversial.

A UFC spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports that discussions are underway with U.S. President Donald Trump to stage a mixed-martial-arts competition at the White House next year as part of celebrations tied to the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence.

Trump disclosed plans to have the UFC fight there last week in an event attended by 20,000 to 25,000 people, adding that “we have a lot of land there. … Dana is going to do it. Dana is great. One of a kind.”

White is expected to speak in more detail soon about the developing plan, but he already has said on Instagram, “This will be epic!!!” Many of the key logistical details, though, including who will fight, who will attend, how it will work with typical White House security, and how it intersects with the rest of UFC’s competition, remain undetermined. Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has already signaled his interest in competing at the White House event.

“There’s a long way to go still,” said a source familiar with the discussions.

If completed, the UFC fights would be the first pro sports events hosted at the White House, though it has been the site of many recreational competitions over the years.

Deeper Relationship

The deepening tie between Trump and UFC, and White specifically, has been no secret. Trump has attended UFC events for years, and White has been an ardent and public supporter of the president. He introduced Trump on the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Days after the 2024 presidential election won by Trump, White told The New Yorker he wanted “nothing to do with politics.” That sentiment hasn’t entirely held form, though, and when unveiling a new boxing venture earlier this year, White said he looked forward to bringing top fighters to the White House.

“They’re fans,” White said in March of the Trump Administration to FOS. “Whenever our fighters win and they go back to their home countries, they usually meet with the president or whoever the ruler is. All over the world, people are interested in who the toughest person in the world is.”

The developing White House plans, meanwhile, prompted strong reactions in both the political and sports communities.

“Trump’s plan to stage a UFC event at the White House makes perfect sense. It is the natural climax of a partnership in which the UFC has become the stage for MAGA mythology,” wrote the U.K.-based Guardian.

Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Wimbledon has several major on-court storylines entering the quarterfinals—though the tournament’s off-court battle is just as exciting.

On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner appear to be on a collision course to meet in the finals just a month after their historic battle at Roland-Garros. But worthy challengers remain entering the quarterfinals Tuesday, including Novak Djokovic, who is chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam, and Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.

The women’s bracket saw a historic number of top-10 seeds fall in the first week, including every single former champion. The door is open for world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her fourth Grand Slam, and leave the French Open as the only major title she’s yet to win.

Only two other top-10 players remain: former world No. 1 Iga Świątek, who has notoriously struggled on grass, and 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

But as the quarterfinals begin Tuesday, so will the U.K. High Court’s review of the proposed Wimbledon expansion. All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has been looking to expand for decades and, in September 2024, the Greater London Authority (GLA) granted it planning permission.

The proposal would add 39 courts by the early 2030s, more than doubling the number of courts to 71. That would be more than double the number of courts at the US Open and Australian Open and four times as many as Roland-Garros.

The AELTC believes the expansion will help it sell more tickets for the Grand Slam, which totaled 526,000 last year, more than 100,000 less than the French Open and about half of the US and Australian opens.

Several tennis stars have shown support for the expansion, including Djokovic and Alcaraz.

However, there has been opposition to AELTC’s plans, with the loudest voice being a group established in 2021 called Save Wimbledon Park (SWP). SWP told Front Office Sports that it is not against expansion, but it has several issues with the proposal—including how some areas used for the expansion should be left to the public.

The hearing in the coming days is not about the approval of expansion, but rather to review SWP’s claims and the planning permit granted by the GLA.

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.

The opinion might spark a broader DFS conversation in the state.

Would you be interested in attending a UFC fight on the White House lawn?

Monday’s result: 59% of respondents think Napheesa Collier’s and Breanna Stewart’s roles as Unrivaled cofounders create a conflict of interest for their WNBPA leadership roles.

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How Other Two-Sport Stars Juggled Football and Baseball

Multi-sport stars are a dying breed. Even as far back as 2002, when Sports Illustrated profiled Michael Bush and Brian Brohm, specialization was rooting out multi-faceted athletes. Matt Ponatoski bucks that trend. Before his senior season, he’s already won the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball and football. He’s a Top 10 QB […]

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39 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

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Before his senior season, he’s already won the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball and football. He’s a Top 10 QB and a Top 20 baseball player in the 2026 recruiting class. It’s clear that Ponatoski has the talent to excel at both, but how will he manage his time at the highest level? There are plenty of recent success stories that illustrate it’s possible.

Austin Simmons

In week two of the 2025 college football season, Austin Simmons will make his first SEC start for Ole Miss. A college football wunderkind, he reclassified up two classes to join Lane Kiffin’s program ahead of the 2023 college football season. After redshirting in the fall, he made 13 appearances as a relief pitcher for Mike Bianco in the spring of 2024. He held opponents to a team low batting average of .173, allowing nine hits in 14 innings.

Near the end of his spring campaign, Simmons suffered a UCL strain. That’s when he turned his attention to football, announcing in January of 2025 that he was hanging up his baseball cleats for good.

Kyler Murray

Following Ponatoski’s commitment to Kentucky, he told Jacob Polacheck that his goal was to pull a Kyler Murray and get drafted in both sports. Murray might be the better comp, because like Ponatoski, he played in the field.

Murray batted .296 and had 47 RBIs in the spring of 2018. That summer, the Oakland A’s took him with the ninth overall pick in the MLB Draft. At that time, Murray had just been a backup for Baker Mayfield. Things changed that fall.

Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns on his way to a Heisman Trophy. Oklahoma avenged a loss to Texas in the Big 12 title to earn a spot in the CFP, where the Sooners fell to top-seeded Alabama. Murray’s baseball signing bonus was worth $4.66 million. He turned it down for a $23.6 million signing bonus as the top pick in the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston had a 3.00 ERA and had an on-base percentage of .377 for a team that played in a Super Regional. That fall, he threw 40 touchdowns, won the Heisman Trophy, and led Florida State to a BCS National Championship. It’s safe to say that 2013 was a good year for Winston.

Despite his success on the gridiron, he continued playing baseball. The relief pitcher appeared in seven more games than the year prior and had an even better ERA of 1.09, allowing only 18 hits in 33.1 innings. His shenanigans off the field created headlines, but he was still pretty good for Jimbo Fisher in 2014. Winston threw for just shy of 4,000 yards and won the ACC title before falling to Oregon in the Rose Bowl after the most hilarious turnover of his career.

Russell Wilson

Long before he was a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson had a tenuous relationship with N.C. State football coach Tom O’Brien because of his love of the game of baseball. He played second base and outfield for the Wolfpack from 2008-10. After leading N.C. State to a 9-win season in 2010, he reported to training camp with the Colorado Rockies. He spent the offseason playing Minor League Baseball, which eventually led to N.C. State relinquishing his scholarship, allowing him to play his final season of college football elsewhere.

That decision worked out great for Wisconsin. Wilson set the single-season FBS record for passer rating and led the Badgers to a Big Ten Title and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.

The moral of the story is clear: Playing two sports only works if the coaches and player are on the same page.

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Texas Tech, TCU and more take over Frisco

With college football season quickly approaching, some of the sport’s key figures are making their way to North Texas for Big 12 media days. There will be plenty to discuss at this year’s Big 12 event. Head coaches and players from each of the conference’s programs will likely hear about NIL handling, parity around the […]

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1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

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With college football season quickly approaching, some of the sport’s key figures are making their way to North Texas for Big 12 media days.

There will be plenty to discuss at this year’s Big 12 event. Head coaches and players from each of the conference’s programs will likely hear about NIL handling, parity around the league and the state of college football moving forward.

Here are five storylines to follow during Big 12 media days Tuesday and Wednesday at The Star in Frisco:

Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire fires his team up before heading onto the field... — Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire fires his team up before heading onto the field against Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave)(Bryon Houlgrave / AP)

What’s brewing in Lubbock?

As the Big 12 enters its second year without powerhouses like Texas and Oklahoma, pundits have shifted their focus toward Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech squad. In one offseason, the Red Raiders have taken major steps toward turning their roster into one of the sport’s best.

Tech particularly focused on transfer portal additions this offseason, landing big names like edge rusher David Bailey and offensive tackle Howard Sampson. According to 247Sports, Tech owns the country’s second-best class of 2025 transfers. The only team ranked above Tech is LSU.

The Red Raiders aren’t only focused on 2025. They also recently landed a commitment from one of the nation’s top 2026 high school recruits in Mansfield Lake Ridge offensive lineman Felix Ojo.

After going 8-5 in 2024, could the Red Raiders make their mark as the Big 12’s team to beat this season?

What will Big 12 programs say about House settlement, NIL handling?

Speaking of recruiting…

In recent months, NIL and revenue share have become major discussion points in collegiate athletics. That’s not surprising, considering the approval of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that came in June.

Collegiate programs are now allowed to pay athletes directly. Just last week, Ojo’s recruitment by Texas Tech earned attention from national pundits. The five-star offensive lineman is set to sign a fully guaranteed three-year, $5.1 million deal to play in Lubbock.

Derrick Shelby, Ojo’s agent, recently told The Dallas Morning News that the length of Ojo’s deal was “unprecedented.”

Expect to hear plenty of questions on athlete compensation throughout the week.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders warms up before an NCAA college football spring game,... — Colorado head coach Deion Sanders warms up before an NCAA college football spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)(Jack Dempsey / AP)

Coach Prime’s health

Many college football followers have wondered about Deion Sanders’ health in recent weeks. The Colorado head coach notably missed a few spring football camps in Boulder.

While the University of Colorado did not comment on Sanders’ health, ESPN reported that the coach was ill and out of office. In June, Sanders spent some time with former Dallas Cowboys teammate Michael Irvin at his home in Canton.

Sanders is scheduled to speak Wednesday, being joined by a contingent of five Colorado players.

Baylor, TCU look to take another step forward

Texas Tech isn’t the only Big 12 program in the state to keep an eye on. Baylor and TCU are looking to take another step forward after clinching winning records and bowl game appearances in 2024.

Dave Aranda needed a strong showing from his Baylor Bears after a 3-9 finish to the 2023 season. After going 8-5 in 2024, Aranda is set to return for another season in Waco with a veteran group. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson and wide receiver Josh Cameron are names to follow as Baylor looks to return to Big 12 title contention.

Meanwhile, TCU is also looking to build on a positive finish to the 2024 campaign. The Horned Frogs went 9-4 and secured a convincing 34-3 win over Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl.

Sonny Dykes will rely on quarterback Josh Hoover (a Rockwall-Heath product) to lead TCU toward the top of the conference’s standings.

Year 2 will be key for Big 12’s newest members

Things should be fairly set in the Big 12 for the 2025 season. The conference is one year removed from adding new members after Texas and Oklahoma departed for the SEC.

Three of the Big 12’s four newcomers from 2024 fared well last season, finishing near the top of the conference’s standings. Can Arizona State, BYU and Colorado do it again in 2025?

Arizona State has a tough act to follow after winning the Big 12 title and securing a College Football Playoff berth last year. Allen’s Jordyn Tyson is a player to keep tabs on throughout the upcoming campaign.

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Report: Judge denies motion to dismiss NIL lawsuit against Leonard Hamilton

On Monday, a Leon County judge denied former Florida State men’s basketball head coach Leonard Hamilton‘s motion to dismiss an NIL-related lawsuit against him, per The Athletic‘s Matt Baker. In the hearing, they set a tentative trial date of August 2026. In December of last year, Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green and Jalen Warley alleged Hamilton […]

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1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

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On Monday, a Leon County judge denied former Florida State men’s basketball head coach Leonard Hamilton‘s motion to dismiss an NIL-related lawsuit against him, per The Athletic‘s Matt Baker. In the hearing, they set a tentative trial date of August 2026.

In December of last year, Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green and Jalen Warley alleged Hamilton promised each of them $250,000 in NIL payments from the coach’s “business partners,” per the complaint. The players reportedly never received payments from Hamilton, Florida State or any other party.

The initial complaint detailed a team-wide boycott that occurred during a practice ahead of Florida State’s game against Duke on Feb. 17. The complaint also included multiple text message exchanges between players and Hamilton and players and Will Cowen, an executive with one of Florida State’s NIL collectives.

After the players walked out of the practice ahead of the Duke game, Hamilton assured the players they would be paid the following week, per the complaint. Florida State ultimately lost to Duke, 76-67. Players were worried over taxes, rent and car notes, per the complaint.

In April, The Field of 68 legal analyst Mitch Gilfillan reported that three of the six plaintiffs were no longer pursuing the lawsuit. Nonetheless, it appears the other three plaintiffs have not had a change of heart and are pushing forward.

None of the six players who were involved in the lawsuit are still on Florida State’s roster. Four of them entered the transfer portal, while two of them had no more eligibility.

Leonard Hamilton announced his resignation in February. He is the winningest head coach in program history and the fifth-winningest head coach in ACC history.

“I am deeply thankful for the tremendous support of our fans, alumni, and everyone associated with Florida State throughout my time here,” Hamilton said. “I am proud of the quality of the young men that it was my privilege to lead, for their faith in this program and in their belief in the philosophy that we tried to instill in them over the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we’ve had here.

“My family and I truly love this place, this institution, and its people. I’m very fortunate to be able to have given this job my all with no regrets. Every head coach inherits a legacy and is obligated to leave the job better than they inherited it. I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here over the last 23 seasons.”

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David Pollack unsure about $2 million QB after offseason transfer chaos

Questions abound for new UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava after his dramatic transfer from Tennessee, and college football analyst David Pollack isn’t exactly sure what to expect. Iamaleava was the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 class before signing with the Volunteers on a lofty NIL contract worth approximately $8 million over four years. The […]

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1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

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Questions abound for new UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava after his dramatic transfer from Tennessee, and college football analyst David Pollack isn’t exactly sure what to expect.

Iamaleava was the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 class before signing with the Volunteers on a lofty NIL contract worth approximately $8 million over four years. The former five-star went on to take over the starting role in 2024 and led the Volunteers to their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.

After NIL negotiations – allegedly pushed by Iamaleava’s representatives – reportedly stalled in the spring, Iamaleava abruptly entered the transfer portal and signed with UCLA while holding an On3 NIL valuation of $2 million.

“Here’s my question. Honestly, though, what do you expect from Nico?” Pollack said on “See Ball Get Ball.” “Like what is your expectation? Do you expect to see the same type of numbers he had at Tennessee? Because here’s the thing: His team is not getting better. That’s what’s unfortunate. His system, is it more friendly and do you get better?”

The Bruins, following the departure of former head coach Chip Kelly, finished 5-7 last season under the leadership of first-year head coach DeShaun Foster.

Iamaleava now faces the challenge of helping UCLA improve on a disappointing season while adapting to a new system and new supporting cast.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound passer completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,930 yards with 19 touchdowns to five interceptions while adding another 358 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in 2024.

“The experience is there, the running, by the way, we saw a lot with Nico,” Pollack said. “And he showed us late in the season he was tough, he took hits. He got dinged several times, man, that you kind of worried about his noggin. But new system, going out West. A lot, a lot, a lot of criticism. A lot of criticism. And a lot of talk. I’m very curious to see how all this goes down.”

All things considered, Pollack is pulling for Iamaleava in his fresh start with the Bruins.

“I’m cheering for the kid, I really am,” Pollack said. “I mean, I’m cheering for (Iamaleava) to do well, because I don’t feel like this was his fault. I feel like he was kind of the… he kind of got used in this situation and he kind of got the bad end of this.”

Iamaleava will make his UCLA debut at home against Utah on Aug. 30 at 11 p.m. ET (Fox).

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Top 10 incoming college basketball freshmen performers at U19 World Championships

The U19 World Basketball Championship was played last week, with 16 countries participating. That included the United States, which features several five-star prospects out of high school who’ll be playing in College Basketball next season. Several other international prospects are set to play in CBB for the 2025-26 campaign as well. The United States defeated […]

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1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

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The United States defeated Germany in the Gold Medal game to conclude the event on Sunday. AJ Dybansta, the incoming No. 1 prospect overall, won MVP honors. There were plenty of great players in this event who’ll be playing in CBB next year, but this piece will focus on those entering their freshman campaigns.

Here were the top 10 performers from the event.

10. Hayden Jones (New Zealand) – UC Irvine

The 6’7 guard averaged 14.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg in the tournament for the 3rd place team, including 23 points against Switzerland in the quarters. Irvine lost Devin Tillis to Virginia, so there’s a clear pathway for Jones to come in and have a sizeable impact.

9. Efeosa Oliogu (Canada) – Butler

The 6’7 forward produced 12.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg, shooting 45% from the field and having a 21-point outing against the finalist, Germany. The athletic wing got to the free throw line at a high rate as well and will give Butler some versatility in the frontcourt alongside Gonzaga transfer, Michael Ajayi.

8. Jacob Furphy (Australia) – UConn

The 6’6 wing was second on the team in scoring with 16.7 ppg, shooting 39% from the field. He had a pair of 24-point outings, including against the United States to open the tournament. Furphy wasn’t overly efficient, but he will have a smaller role as a freshman at UConn, which should benefit his development.

7. Andrej Kostic (Serbia) – Kansas State

The 6’6 guard averaged 16 ppg, including three of the seven games going for 22+ points. Kostic shot 38% from deep on 61 attempts, showcasing his sharpshooting ability. He goes to a new-look Kansas State backcourt that features Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty.

6. Omer Mayer (Israel) – Purdue

The 6’4 point guard was second overall with 20 ppg in four games, including a tournament-high 33 points against Cameroon. With All-American guard Braden Smith back for his senior year, Mayer won’t have a huge role. Yet he may be good enough to warrant good minutes off the bench to play alongside Smith next season.

5. Tyler Kropp (Argentina) – Northwestern

Kropp was the top scorer in the entire event, averaging 21.7 ppg and scoring 18+ points in each game. The 6’8 forward also averaged 9.7 rpg and made 8/14 from deep. Northwestern returns Nick Martinelli, so there won’t be a huge need for Kropp out of the gate, but he’s a long-term prospect to watch.

4. Eric Reibe (Germany) – UConn

The 7’0 center averaged 15.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg for the finalists, including 25 points and eight rebounds against Serbia in the Round of 16. Reibe is another highly-touted international commit to UConn, who’ll get minutes behind Tarris Reed at the five-spot next season, giving them a potential stretch option on offense.

3. AJ Dybantsa (USA) – BYU

The 6’8 forward and No. 1 overall class of 2025 prospect was an expected standout for the champs, averaging 14.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg on 50% shooting. His best game was the 22-point outing to beat Canada in the quarterfinals. He’s set to be the focal point at BYU next season and an early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

2. Hannes Steinbach (Germany) – Washington

The 6’9 big man led Germany with 17.4 ppg and 13 rpg, good for second in the entire tournament. Steinbach had 23 points and 19 rebounds against Serbia, along with 19 points versus the US in the Gold Medal Game. Look for him to be an impact newcomer in Washington’s frontcourt, whether at the four or five spots.

1. Mikel Brown Jr. (USA) – Louisville

Yes, Dybansta won MVP honors, but it’s hard not to view Brown as the biggest individual winner of this tournament. He led Team USA with 14.9 ppg and 6.1 apg, shooting 47% from the field and 48% from deep on 42 attempts. Brown had a pair of 24-point outings and 20 to beat Canada in the quarterfinals. He’s set to be the starting PG at Louisville as a freshman and now looks to be a potential one-and-done player to the pros in his own right.

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