The leading worldwide players getting in college basketball this season

• Jonathan Givony Jeff Borzello Close Jeff Borzello ESPN Staff Writer Basketball recruiting expert. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of

  University of Delaware.Oct 17, 2023,

• 09:45 AM ET The effect of global prospects on American basketball isn’t a new phenomenon. One need look no further than last

season’s All-NBA first string,

which featured four players born outside the United States– a group that didn’t consist of two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Or the last 5 NBA MVP awards, all won by players born outside the United States. Or France native Victor Wembanyama, the most recent No. 1 NBA draft pick.International players have had an impact on the NBA going back to the 1980s, when Hakeem Olajuwon(Nigeria)and Patrick Ewing (Jamaica )were chosen No. 1 in back-to-back

drafts(1984 and ’85)and then went on to control the league for years.Their effect on men’s college basketball, nevertheless, is growing. A decade earlier, just a handful of schools were consistently travelling to procure skill.

There was Gonzaga, there was Saint Mary’s, there were programs hiring the top players in Canada– and then there were programs that would hire players once they concerned the United States for high school.Editor’s Picks 2 Related That has actually all changed in recent years, as leading worldwide potential customers are no longer playing professionally overseas till it’s time to get in the NBA draft, and more college

programs than ever are recruiting talent from all over the world. There are a few reasons behind the trend. The most significant is the intro of name, image and similarity(NIL )deals, which now permit student-athletes to earn money while playing in college. Another is the proliferation of Basketball Without Borders, NBA Basketball Schools and the NBA Academies. Include increased access for college coaches to FIBA occasions, and there are just more chances to evaluate a high variety of top-level worldwide prospects in competitive settings.Heading into the 2023-24 season, there’s a case to be made that at least 7 or 8 programs in the preseason top 25 are going to require instant contributions from their international beginners; a couple could even be one-and-done. Here’s a look at the most impactful international prospects

entering men’s college basketball this season, and how they’ll slot into their particular programs.Note: This list consists of only players who didn’t play high school basketball in the United States. Scouting report: The center from Zaragoza, Spain, is a substantial target in the low post, and as a choice and

roll finisher with his 7-foot-7 wingspan, excellent skill level and feel for the game. He’s an excellent passer with polished footwork, reputable hands and a soft touch around the basket, currently bringing substantial experience at the greatest levels of international basketball. The main questions, besides his NCAA eligibility, focus on his lack of durability in the paint and his protective struggles on the border. Dealing with these might move him into the top-10 NBA draft pick discussion as rapidly as June.– Jonathan Givony How he fits: It will be intriguing to see how Mara plays together with the group’s lone returning starter, Adem Bona, who was regularly in nasty trouble last season.