The most impactful international newcomers to know for 2024-25

While much of the conversation surrounding the growing NIL market focuses on the money the top transfers and high school prospects are receiving, one byproduct of this new era is the proliferation of highly touted international prospects entering college basketball.

Until recently, many of the top NBA prospects outside of the United States would remain overseas until they were eligible for the draft. But with colleges offering significant resources, as well as the platform and exposure of the sport, coming to play in the United States is growing in popularity.

College coaches have also enjoyed loosened restrictions and increased access to FIBA tournaments and club-team practices and events, allowing them to watch international prospects in high-level settings. Not to mention video services which provide the ability to scout global games with just a click.

While international newcomers have historically been more hit-or-miss than American high school recruits, the overseas market in this era of college basketball is different. Many players would never have considered playing college basketball in the United States a few years ago. We’re not talking about 17- or 18-year-olds from a European junior program, but 20- or 21-year-olds, who have played professionally overseas for three or four years.

Some of these players face eligibility questions. Will they be cleared to play immediately? Will the older ones — especially those transferring from non-athletic universities — be classified as freshmen?

Projecting freshmen is already an inexact science. Projecting international newcomers, who have the added challenge of adjusting to a new country, is even more so.

Still, this class of international players is expected to be the most talented group ever to enter college. Three players are ranked in the top 15 of ESPN’s Top 100 NBA draft rankings, while several others are poised to make an immediate impact at the high-major level.

If this class lives up to the hype, it could change the way college coaches build rosters and prioritize international prospects.

Here is how we rank the most impactful international prospects entering the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

Notes: This list includes only players who didn’t play high school basketball in the United States. ESPN Top 100 rankings are as of Oct. 7.

Scouting report: Jakucionis, 18, has an outstanding combination of size, shooting, pick-and-roll playmaking, toughness and feel for the game as a 6-foot-6 point guard. He was a dominant player at the club level for Barcelona’s junior program and the Lithuanian national team, putting up gaudy numbers everywhere he’s played and logging minutes in the Euroleague and ACB — a rarity at his age. His aggressiveness, maturity and physicality have him ranked as the No. 15 prospect in ESPN’s 2025 draft projections. — Jonathan Givony

How he fits: Jakucionis should start and have a sizable offensive role immediately for coach Brad Underwood and the Illini. A big part of Illinois’ offense last season was getting Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask into advantageous matchups and then attacking defenses. Expect Jakucionis to step into one of those roles this season. He can be the team’s primary playmaker or he could play off the ball with Kylan Boswell running the offense. Either way, he’ll have the ball in his hands a ton from Day 1. — Jeff Borzello

Scouting report: The freshman center has elite size (7-2) and length (7-6 wingspan, 9-6 standing reach) to go along with mobility, intensity and timing as a rim protector. A product of the NBA Academy, he logged minutes for South Sudan in the Olympics and FIBA World Cup the past two summers, despite having turned 18 in September. Maluach is a lob threat and occasional floor-spacer, but how he acquits himself to the speed of the college game, especially offensively, will help determine if his No. 8 draft pick projection holds up. — Givony

How he fits: The path is clear for Maluach to be Duke’s starting center early in the season. Coach Jon Scheyer has Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown if he wants to play small ball for stretches, but the only other center is fellow freshman Patrick Ngongba II, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Maluach will be the Blue Devils’ defensive anchor and should get plenty of easy lobs and dump-offs around the rim at the other end. Duke needs him to be good, and he’ll get every chance to prove his talent. — Borzello

Scouting report: Demin, 18, played point guard almost exclusively for Real Madrid’s junior team, bringing unique versatility at 6-9 with the creativity he shows operating out of pick-and-roll and shooting off the dribble. Demin’s defense and toughness will now be tested in the demanding Big 12. How efficient he can be as a freshman will shed insight into whether he can maintain his lofty No. 11 draft projection. — Givony

How he fits: If the clips from BYU’s Blue and White Game are any indication, Demin is going to be used as a high-level facilitator to carve up defenses with his size, vision and passing ability. New coach Kevin Young will look to introduce NBA concepts into the offense, and Demin should suit that well. The Cougars bring back four players who averaged at least nine points last season, but Demin is too talented and too skilled to keep off the floor. — Borzello

Scouting report: At 7-2, 265 pounds, with huge hands, long arms and solid mobility, Yigitoglu will be one of the most imposing figures in the college game as both a pick-and-roll finisher and rim protector. The 20-year-old saw meaningful action in Turkey and the EuroCup last season, and boasts significant FIBA experience, which should aid his transition to the college game. — Givony

How he fits: Yigitoglu will have to get cleared by the NCAA before he hits the floor, but coach Andy Enfield told ESPN at ACC Media Day earlier this month SMU feels good about the outcome. If and when he does get cleared, expect a significant frontcourt role for the Turkey native. The Mustangs plan to play with a lot of size, using UMass transfer Matt Cross at small forward and a slew of big men at the 4 and 5 spots. Yigitoglu will factor into that rotation. — Borzello

5. Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois Fighting Illini

Scouting report: The 21-year-old brother of current Arkansas freshman Zvonimir Ivisic, Tomislav has been playing professional basketball for the past five years and brings his skills in passing and operating inside the paint to the Illini. He can also step outside and make 3-pointers. He has some questions to answer defensively but boasts a wealth of experience at the FIBA level and Adriatic league. — Givony

How he fits: Ivisic is another player awaiting NCAA clearance at the time of this story, but the buzz coming out of Champaign all offseason has been that the Croatia native had the inside track to a spot. If he is sidelined for the start of the season, freshman Morez Johnson Jr. and Notre Dame transfer Carey Booth could see increased roles — though currently, all signs point to Ivisic slotting in next to Evansville transfer Ben Humrichous up front. — Borzello

NEWS: Tomislav Ivisic, a skilled, 7-foot-1, 250-pound Croatian center from SC Derby, has committed to Illinois in 2024, a source told ESPN.

Ivisic, a stalwart at the FIBA level, is having an excellent season in the Adriatic League. Twin brother of Arkansas’ Zvonimir Ivisic. pic.twitter.com/mW7Yr5hKTM

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 6, 2024

Scouting report: Halaifonua elected to reclassify to play this year late after winning MVP honors at the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta in July. The 7-footer has a huge frame and a versatile inside-out skill set to go along with impressive passing ability and an excellent feel for the game. He has already made his senior national team debut for New Zealand, and is drawing rave reviews early on, suggesting he’ll play a bigger role than expected despite being 18 years old with some things to work on from a conditioning and defensive standpoint. — Givony

How he fits: The Hoyas entered the summer in desperate need of an impact big man and beat out North Carolina for Halaifonua. There are certainly minutes up for grabs, given Georgetown’s struggles down low last season. Coach Ed Cooley only brings back Drew Fielder from that group, with the rest of Halaifonua’s frontcourt competition coming from fellow freshmen. — Borzello

Nice few days at NBA Academy Games for New Zealand PF Oscar Goodman and C Julius Halaifonua.

Goodman showed off his playmaking ability and outstanding feel, skill and physicality.

Halaifonua a terrific passer at 7’1 who is skilled in the post, in PnR and even stretching floor. pic.twitter.com/qv8Cj7iMJV

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 12, 2024

Scouting report: Prey has put up huge numbers in FIBA youth categories and seen extended runs in the Spanish ACB and EuroCup with Joventut Badalona last season, giving him significant experience. He’s a skilled big man with strong instincts on both ends of the floor, who still has questions to answer with his athleticism and 3-point shooting to emerge as a more serious NBA prospect. — Givony

How he fits: The Portugal native was a late arrival to the Red Storm, but his basketball IQ and work ethic at both ends of the floor ensure there’s a role for him in coach Rick Pitino’s system. His lack of advanced offensive ability shouldn’t be much of an issue given St. John’s has the likes of Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith, Simeon Wilcher and RJ Luis Jr. to handle the point production. Prey could play behind Zuby Ejiofor early, or give Pitino options for a bigger frontcourt at the forward spot. — Borzello

Scouting report: Klavzar guided Slovenia to the FIBA U20 European championship game, leading the tournament in per-minute scoring. It was his fifth national team campaign over the past six summers. The 20-year-old has polished scoring instincts and dynamic shot-making prowess, making a huge volume of 3-pointers throughout his career, but is also capable of creating shots for himself and others. He made his Euroleague debut for Real Madrid at age 17, dropping 10 points in 23 minutes against seasoned pros. — Givony

How he fits: The question all offseason for Florida has focused on finding a sidekick for Walter Clayton Jr., who ended 2023-24 as one of the elite scorers in college basketball. Zyon Pullin had filled that role, giving coach Todd Golden someone who could score but was equally effective as a playmaker and distributor. Alijah Martin will have the ball in his hands more, but Will Richard is a wing. He’s awaiting clearance from the NCAA, which could leave an opening for Klavzar, who is already making an impression with his scoring. — Borzello

Scouting report: Zugic, 21, burst onto NBA radars back in 2018, averaging 19 points per game at the FIBA U16 European Championship as a 14-year-old, making his Euroleague debut at 15 shortly after. The 6-6 wing averaged 10.3 points in 21 minutes in the German first division last season, shooting 3s on significant volume — making him one of the most accomplished international freshmen in college basketball history. — Givony

How he fits: Coach Greg McDermott needed to rebuild his perimeter group in the offseason, first landing transfers Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech) and Jamiya Neal (Arizona State) from the portal. Then he signed Zugic. Once cleared by the NCAA, Zugic could be the first perimeter player off the bench — at worst — and shouldn’t have a huge learning curve given his years of professional experience. Creighton consistently ranks near the top of the Big East in 3-point percentage and 3-point attempt rate; Zugic’s shooting prowess could give him the edge for minutes. — Borzello

Scouting report: The 21-year-old started games in the EuroCup and Lithuanian first division last season but played a far bigger role for the national team as a point guard at the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship — despite standing 6-8. He has an excellent feel for the game, can make 3s in a variety of ways and boasts a wealth of experience that should help him hit the ground running from Day 1. — Givony

How he fits: Oregon State is 27-68 over the past three seasons and lost its two best players during the summer. In other words, there are plenty of minutes to go around. Lelevicious is another player yet to be cleared by the NCAA, but he could be the perfect fit for coach Wayne Tinkle’s team. There’s solid depth down low and SIUE transfer Damarco Minor can score on the perimeter, but Lelevicius should push for minutes on the wing immediately. His playmaking will be an asset in the WCC. — Borzello

Honorable mention:

Ismaila Diagne [Senegal], Gonzaga
Savo Drezgic [Serbia], Georgia
Dominique Diomande [Ivory Coast], Washington (joining team in December and will pursue academic eligibility)
Maxim Logue [France], Oregon State
Amaël L’Etang [France], Dayton
Hamad Mousa [Qatar], Dayton
Justas Stonkus [Lithuania], Charleston
Matej Bosnjak [Croatia], Wichita State
Noah Bolanga [France], St. Bonaventure
Amsal Delalic [Bosnia], Pitt
Roberts Blums [Latvia], Davidson
Dayan Nessah [Switzerland], George Washington
Matas Vokietaitis [Lithuania], Florida Atlantic