Talent Drain from Spain's Liga Endesa to NCAA: The Summer Exodus of Top Basketball Players

The Great Player Exodus from Liga Endesa to NCAA

This summer has been a real doozy for European basketball as around 20 players from various Liga Endesa teams and their youth academies have packed their bags and set sail for the NCAA. It seems like every summer, there’s a fresh batch of talent heading across the pond, and this year is no different.

Who’s Taking the Leap?

A bunch of young athletes, previously running drills with Liga Endesa teams or playing in the under-22 leagues, have decided to make the jump to the NCAA. With the new NIL rules in play and the glorious transfer portal making it easier to switch schools like changing socks, it’s become increasingly common to see athletes head to the college circuit.

Meet the New Crop of Stars

Here’s a look at some of the players embarking on their NCAA adventure:

Gunars Grindvalds (UCLA)
Ilia Frolov (Arkansas)
Nikola Kusturica (UCLA)
Sayon Keita (North Carolina)
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje (Duke)
Miguel Allen (Charlotte 49ers)
Michael Ruzic (LSU)
Bassala Bagayoko (Texas Tech)
Dylan Bordón (San Francisco)
Xabi López (Abilene)
Jorge Carot (Pacific)
Max Gaspà (Bradley)
Gustav Knudsen (San Francisco)
Juan Fernández (South Carolina)
Kostas Kostadinov (Mississippi State)
Santiago Paz (North Dakota State)
Chiek Diallo (St. Bonaventure)
Lee Aaliya (Ohio State)

Just this past week, a few more names hopped onto this runaway train: Bassala Bagayoko (Surne Bilbao), Chiek Diallo (Kosner Baskonia), and Lee Aaliya (UCAM Murcia) have confirmed they’re joining the NCAA frenzy.

Is Izan Almansa Next?

And wait, there’s possibly one more name to throw into the ring: Izan Almansa. This talented Spanish power forward, who recently parted ways with Real Madrid, has been linked to Gonzaga quite a bit this summer, even before Mario Saint-Supery made his exit from the team. However, as this article goes to print, Almansa’s NCAA future remains as mysterious as the Bermuda Triangle—no word on where he’s headed yet.

Photo credits to acb and FIBA.

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1.571 | July 2026

Get ready for an exciting World Cup filled with analysis, interviews (like one with Awa Fam), and a preview of what’s coming up, alongside all things Liga Endesa, NBA, and EuroLeague!