NCAA 2025–26: Spain consolidates its presence in U.S. college basketball

The 2025–26 NCAA Division I season once again confirmed the steady growth of Spanish talent in U.S. college basketball. A total of 20 Spanish players competed in programs at the highest level of the collegiate game, spread across universities in different conferences and occupying a wide range of roles, from key contributors to rotation and development players.

The group is led by several names who already carried strong international reputations before crossing the Atlantic and who have managed to establish themselves as important pieces within their respective programs.

One of the standouts of the season was Baba Miller, who delivered a very complete campaign with Cincinnati, averaging 13.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The Spanish forward established himself as one of the team’s most versatile players, capable of contributing in all facets of the game and leading the squad statistically in several categories.

Another notable name was Aday Mara, now at Michigan, who continued to showcase his interior impact with 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. His defensive presence once again stood out as one of the most visible aspects of his game, confirming his development as one of the most intriguing European centers in the NCAA environment.

Spanish talent also made its presence felt on the perimeter. Rubén Domínguez, at Texas A&M, averaged 10.3 points per game, establishing himself as a consistent offensive threat, while Mario Saint-Supéry, at Gonzaga, recorded 8.6 points and 3.6 assists, demonstrating his ability to run the offense and create advantages from the point guard position.

Among the players with significant roles, Conrad Martínez also stood out with 9.3 points and 3.4 assists at High Point, while Valentino Pinedo contributed 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds at UNC Greensboro, establishing himself as a solid presence on both ends of the floor.

Spanish representation was also present in the frontcourt with Álvaro Folgueiras, who averaged 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds at Iowa, while at programs such as Davidson and Vermont, players like Ian Platteeuw and Lucas Marí contributed rotation minutes and production in several statistical categories.

Other Spanish players competing in Division I during the season included Guillermo del Pino (Maryland), Fabián Flores (DePaul), Adrià Rodríguez (Washington State), Jordi Rodríguez (Cincinnati), Álex Huguet (Louisiana-Monroe), Lucas Hernández Langarita (Utah), David Gómez and Raúl Villar (Charlotte), Iker Garmendia (Elon), Luca Soroa (Northeastern), and Pablo Tamba (LSU), completing a group that continues to grow and diversify within the U.S. college basketball system.

Beyond individual statistics, the presence of these twenty players reflects a clear trend: Spain continues to establish itself as one of the leading exporters of talent to the NCAA, with players arriving increasingly well prepared to compete in the demanding environment of American college basketball.

The 2025–26 season therefore provided another snapshot of the growing footprint of Spanish basketball in the United States, with players spread across the country, bringing different styles and career paths, but sharing a common goal: continuing to expand Spain’s presence within the NCAA.