MUNICH (Germany) - Much like the NBA has become a truly global league in recent years, fueled by the influx of talented players from all over the world, the NCAA and its biggest stage—the Division I basketball tournament—have undergone a similar transformation.
This year's field features a wealth of young European talent, many of them leading winning teams or playing key roles for national title contenders. In this article, we'll highlight 10 European players you won't want to miss in March Madness.
Christian Anderson Jr. - Germany
Guard
Birth Date: April 2, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Team: Texas Tech Class: Freshman
Anderson thrived in his role as a sixth man for the Red Raiders during his freshman season, averaging 10.8 points per game while shooting 40.7 percent from three-point range. The German guard made a significant impact for Texas Tech with his polished multi-level scoring ability, being aggressive looking for his own shot via drives and pull-up jumpers, while also setting up teammates out of the attention he draws as a scorer. Anderson showed last summer at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket that he's one of the players to watch as Germany looks for a long-term successor to Dennis Schroder. Anderson's success during his freshman season at Texas Tech puts him as a strong candidate to step into that role in the future.
Alvaro Folgueiras - Spain
Power Forward
Birth Date: April 1, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Team: Robert Morris Class: Sophomore
Folgueiras has been one of the breakout players of this college basketball season. The Spanish forward went from averaging 5.2 points per game as a freshman to 14.1 points as a sophomore, to go with 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. The leap in production came with individual accolades, as he was named as the Horizon League Player of the Year, but also with team success, as Folgueiras led the Colonials to their first NCAA Tournament bid in a decade. Folgueiras' combination of 2.05m size, productivity around the basket, two-way impact and shooting potential at just 19 years old makes him one of the most interesting long-term prospects in the tournament and someone who could be key in the future of the Spanish national team.
Tomislav Ivisic - Croatia
Center
Birth Date: August 9, 2003 (21 years old) Height: 2.16m (7ft 1in) Team: Illinois Class: Sophomore
Ivisic followed in the footsteps of his twin brother Zvonimir, going the college route after a standout junior career for SC Derby. His first season for the Illini seemed like a continuation of his European career, as he made an impact right away for the team with his massive 2.16m size, interior finishing, rebounding, post-passing and rim protection. The Croatian center was also able to space the floor, converting 34.6 percent of his three-point attempts. On paper, Illinois is one of the most talented teams in college basketball; they have the potential to outplay their seeding and surprise people in the NCAA Tournament. If they do, you can expect Ivisic to be one of the keys for the Illini.
Kasparas Jakucionis - Lithuania
Guard
Birth Date: May 29, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Team: Illinois Class: Freshman
Recently named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, Jakucionis adapted quickly to the college game, becoming the leading scorer and playmaker for Illinois in just his first year at the NCAA level. The 1.98m guard possesses a combination of elite positional size, passing vision and shooting touch which allows him to set up teammates with creative passes, get to the rim with powerful drives and convert jumpers both off-the-catch and off-the-dribble. Jakucionis has yet to make his debut for Lithuania's senior national team, but after an impressive college season that has him projected as a potential top-10 pick in this year's NBA Draft, it's hard not to see him as a big part of the future for Lithuania.
Augustas Marciulionis - Lithuania
Guard
Birth Date: March 21, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Team: Saint Mary's Class: Senior
The son of legendary Lithuanian guard Sarunas Marciulionis has been making a name for himself at Saint Mary's, being named as the WCC Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons and having made the NCAA Tournament every single year of his career. Marciulionis has developed into one of the best floor generals in college basketball. The 1.93m guard is able to consistently set up teammates with creative passes, while also being able to call his own number as a scorer, with his creative ball-handling and an improved three-point shot. While Marciulionis tries to lead the Gaels to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010, his four years at St. Mary's are proof that the future is bright for Lithuania at the point guard position.
Emanuel Sharp - Israel
Guard
Birth Date: March 7, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Team: Houston Class: Junior
Sharp has been a key piece for a Houston squad that has won 30+ games in each of his three seasons with the team. The Israeli guard had already shown his aggressive scoring mentality at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2019, where he became only the second player to average over 25 points per game this century, and while he's certainly dialed down the volume in college, he has become much more efficient, shooting 43.3 percent from the field and a scorching-hot 42.8 percent from three-point range. Houston enters March Madness as a number one seed, and they certainly have a chance to win it all. If they do, Sharp's three-point shooting and perimeter defense will likely play a major role.
Max Shulga - Ukraine
Guard
Birth Date: June 25, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 1.96m (6ft 5in) Team: VCU Class: Senior
Shulga had a tremendous 2024-25 season, being named as the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and leading VCU to a conference title. Shulga is a versatile guard who utilizes his 1.96m size, strong frame and long arms to overpower opponents on his way to the rim, while also being a factor as a three-point shooter and playmaker for others. Over his two years at VCU, Shulga has established himself as a cornerstone of the team and a potential difference-maker for the Ukrainian national team in the near future. As an 11-seed in the tournament, VCU faces an uphill battle, but Shulga's versatility and playmaking should make the Rams a dangerous upset threat.
Danny Wolf - Israel
Center
Birth Date: May 5, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Team: Michigan Class: Junior
Wolf transferred from Yale ahead of the 2024-25 season and quickly proved to be the missing piece for Michigan, as the Wolverines won their first conference title since 2018. The 20-year-old center stands out with his massive 2.13m size, which allows him to dominate in the paint with his rebounding, interior finishing and rim protection. Wolf also made an impact with his perimeter skills, selectively putting the ball on the floor, shooting threes and making plays for others. Wolf's impact on multiple levels of the floor has been key for Michigan and has the Israeli center in first round consideration ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft. A solid run in the NCAA Tournament could put Wolf firmly as one of the top prospects in the draft, and as a piece for the future of the Israeli national team.
Henri Veesaar - Estonia
Center
Birth Date: March 28, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Team: Arizona Class: Sophomore
In his first season seeing significant playing time for Arizona, Veesaar lived up to the lofty expectations he had coming out of the Real Madrid ranks. The 2.13m center provided a much-needed interior presence for Arizona, being an efficient finisher at the rim, while also making an impact on the defensive end of the floor with his rebounding and rim protection. Veesaar also showed the ability to step out and shoot threes, which he has converted at a 34.8 percent clip. Veesaar, who has already seen minutes with the Estonian national team, took a major leap this season and proved that he can perform at the high level his pre-NCAA play suggested. He should be an X-Factor during the tournament, coming off the bench for a dangerous Arizona squad.
Egor Demin - Russia
Guard
Birth Date: March 3, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Team: Brigham Young Class: Freshman
During his first season at BYU, Demin has been one of the most exciting players to watch at the college level. Standing at 2.03m, utilizes his combination of elite positional size and fluid ball-handling ability to create mismatches against smaller guards. His calling card, however, is his ability to make plays for others, where he shows advanced vision and creativity to find and deliver the ball to teammates. Demin's production has dipped slightly in the latter part of the season, but his profile as a point forward is extremely intriguing. March Madness will provide a huge opportunity for the former Real Madrid prospect to strengthen his case as a potential lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Honorable Mentions
No list would be complete without some tough omissions. For more European NCAA standouts who could become stars during March, be sure to check out Owen Aquino (Liberty), Kezza Giffa (High Point), Vladislav Goldin (Michigan), Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas), Nordin Kapic (UC San Diego), Viktor Lakhin (Clemson), Igor Milicic Jr. (Tennessee), Paulius Murauskas (Saint Mary's) and Amari Williams (Kentucky).
FIBA