By Artau Pascual
The College Basketball 2024/25 season will tip off in a little less than a week. As it has been become every year more and more common, this Summer we have seen many highly touted prospects from Europe make their way to the United States to play College Basketball, but it has also turned into an option for veteran players with first division experience whose next step was uncertain looking for options to play right away who will have the chance to make an impact for their teams in the short term, using CBB either as a full cycle option or as one to evaluate season after season. Teams have found in Europe a market that, as well as the transfer portal, can help them to add some professional experience that they wouldn’t find in other markets. It’s a good moment to take a look at a few first-year players that could make a day-one impact for their teams.
Kasparas Jakucionis- Illinois, 6’6, Guard
Jakucionis’ steady progression in the last two seasons didn’t go unnoticed in the CBB universe, and he turned into one of the most highly valuated Guards in the market. Now, after a strong individual Summer run with the Lithuanian U18 NT, he’s ready to take the next step in his career alongside Coach Brad Underwood in the Big Ten Conference. Standing at 6’6, Jakucionis looked like a pro-ready player from a physical standpoint in the last youth tournaments in Europe because of his high-level motor and activity and his strong frame.
Despite losing important players as Terrence Shannon or Marcus Domask to the NBA, the Illinois perimeter looks deep for the incoming season, and Jakucionis will have a more limited role than the one he had in the last seasons. Kylan Boswell will be a main perimeter option, and the Lithuanian guard will have some margin to adjust to the CBB requirements. Thinking about Jakucionis’ fit in the scheme, his strengths are pretty encouraging: he’s a smart, big guard who can play alongside other playmakers and score in bunches in ball-screen actions and transition. Jakucionis is a talented shotmaker who can produce at a fair level both off the catch or off the dribble from the three-point line, and his ability to drive and put rim pressure shouldn’t be underestimated even though because of his straight-line speed and use of size and strength. Defense wasn’t his selling point in the FC Barcelona program, but in a more limited offensive role, he should be able to provide a consistent effort and some valuable lineup flexibility to his team.
Egor Demin- BYU, 6’9, Wing
Egor Demin left the Real Madrid program on a high note after clinching the ANGT Finals win in Berlin back in May. There, the Russian 6’9 Wing played some of his best basketball and demonstrated that his competitiveness and impact on both ends of the floor belongs to the high level. Demin’s mix of size and skill is appealing, especially considering that it is easy to identify the areas where he can gain consistency and how his game will benefit from the physical developments that will happen in the next stage. There are not many players with his body who can impact the game both in as many ways as him. However, in his specific case, it will be essential to go step by step because the BIG 12 is really demanding.
Demin’s fit in Coach Kevin Young system will be fun to follow. The former Phoenix Suns Associate Head Coach has the tools to implement a dynamic offense with multiple ball-handlers, and his fit as a playmaker who can contribute in a secondary role or operate off the catch looks matches the requirements of this scheme. If the Real Madrid product can step up as a consistent spot-up shooter from behind the three-point line, his value will increase, and he will have an easier adaptation to the Conference. On the other hand, while his body and athleticism obviously have some ways to go, his defensive contribution off the ball and excellent size should bring some immediate value to the table.
Liutauras Lelevicius- Oregon State, 6’7, Wing
Oregon State, a program that will count with six European players in the 2024/25 season, got a good one with Liutauras Lelevicius. The Zalgiris Kaunas product, who played last for Lietkabelis Panevezys at the LKL and Eurocup level, will find in the CBB landscape a shorter path to playing time than the one that was shaping for him. Standing at 6’7, the Lithuanian SF is a proven sharpshooter with beautiful shooting mechanics who can bring some value as a driver off closeouts. We saw him leading with important roles with the Lithuanian youth categories NT, and he used to leave good sensations in an increased role.
Lelevicius will enter his first CBB season as a 21-year-old player who should be able to contribute right away for his team. Oregon State lost many of their 2023/24 main contributors such as Jordan Pope, Tyler Bilodeau and Dexter Akanno, and that’s why adding a veteran Freshman is especially valuable for them. Oregon State also added Maxim Logue to their Frontcourt rotation: Logue, a 2005-born C, will bring to the table some athleticism and high levels of motor and activity. Standing at 6’9, Logue still needs to see how the game slows down to his eyes, but there’s always room for a player with his attributes.
Urban Klavzar- Florida, 6’1, Guard
Urban Klavzar is a well-known name in the European basketball universe. He was an important player for Real Madrid’s program, and his scoring explosions have always been valuable for the teams he’s been playing for. The 6’1 Slovenian guard was also a key piece for the Slovenian U20 NT run this Summer, that competed for the first place in the Championship against France until the last minute of action.
Klavzar is a small-sized guard with a clear go-to skill: three-point shooting. He can create his own looks off the dribble using a few dribbles, and he also can make an impact as an off-movement shooter: because of his lower-body strength and motor, he’s unpredictable coming off screens and squares up really well for his shot. Let’s add to the mix that he’s smart enough to understand his gravity and has added some mid-range and non-restricted area counters to his game. Klavzar projects as an immediate valuable contributor because it’s easy to identify what he can do and also because of his character: something that stands out in his game is the confidence in himself, as well as the next-play mentality that separates good shooters from great shooters. It will be challenging for him to stay at the required level on defense, given that the impact that a player of his size can have off the ball is very limited, and he will be a target for switches against certain opponents. If he’s able to overcome this and succeed as an on the ball defender against guards, it all will come easier to him.
Tomislav Ivisic- Illinois, 7’1, Center
Last year, Zvonimir Ivisic enrolled in Kentucky, and this Summer has been the turn for the other brother. The former SC Derby player committed to Illinois, as well as Kasparas Jakucionis, and will bring to the table old-school big attributes to the rotation. Tomislav Ivisic will have to compete for a starting spot with Morez Johnson, another Freshman big that Illinois added to their depth chart this Summer and will compensate the rotation with more athleticism and energy.
Ivisic, 2003-born, is more of a conventional big. The best of his game comes when he can get post touches or be involved in pick&roll actions. In the recent seasons, we have seen him adding some perimeter shooting, but his skillset is entirely different from what his brother does. On the defensive end, Ivisic projects as a drop big who should avoid being exposed on the perimeter. Most of his success on this end will come down to how he develops his communication and awareness to stay at the required level.
Fedor Zugic- Creighton, 6’6, Wing
Creighton added a 2003-born, veteran wing with huge professional experience at demanding levels this Summer. Fedor Zugic is a talented 6’6 shotmaking wing who has already competed at the highest stages with teams such as Ratiopharm Ulm, who is expected to have an immediate contribution for Creighton on the offensive end. He scored more than 12 points per game at the FIBA Europe Cup level and over 10 points per game at the BBL level while shooting over 37% from the three-point line, so there’s not much more to add here.
Zugic, as well as some other players mentioned previously and some others that will head to CBB in the foreseeable future, should be seen as players with short-term value who will provide high floor and raise the competitive hopes of their teams. He will likely embrace a more important role than the one he could envision for himself in Europe this season, play an important role in building an ideal scenario for Ryan Kalbrenner, who will benefit from sharing the court with a player with Zugic’s offensive gravity.
The College Basketball 2024/25 season will tip off in a little less than a week. As it has been become every year more and more common, this Summer we have seen many highly touted prospects from Europe make their way to the United States to play College Basketball, but it has also turned into an option for veteran players with first division experience whose next step was uncertain looking for options to play right away who will have the chance to make an impact for their teams in the short term, using CBB either as a full cycle option or as one to evaluate season after season. Teams have found in Europe a market that, as well as the transfer portal, can help them to add some professional experience that they wouldn’t find in other markets. It’s a good moment to take a look at a few first-year players that could make a day-one impact for their teams.
Kasparas Jakucionis- Illinois, 6’6, Guard
Jakucionis’ steady progression in the last two seasons didn’t go unnoticed in the CBB universe, and he turned into one of the most highly valuated Guards in the market. Now, after a strong individual Summer run with the Lithuanian U18 NT, he’s ready to take the next step in his career alongside Coach Brad Underwood in the Big Ten Conference. Standing at 6’6, Jakucionis looked like a pro-ready player from a physical standpoint in the last youth tournaments in Europe because of his high-level motor and activity and his strong frame.
Despite losing important players as Terrence Shannon or Marcus Domask to the NBA, the Illinois perimeter looks deep for the incoming season, and Jakucionis will have a more limited role than the one he had in the last seasons. Kylan Boswell will be a main perimeter option, and the Lithuanian guard will have some margin to adjust to the CBB requirements. Thinking about Jakucionis’ fit in the scheme, his strengths are pretty encouraging: he’s a smart, big guard who can play alongside other playmakers and score in bunches in ball-screen actions and transition. Jakucionis is a talented shotmaker who can produce at a fair level both off the catch or off the dribble from the three-point line, and his ability to drive and put rim pressure shouldn’t be underestimated even though because of his straight-line speed and use of size and strength. Defense wasn’t his selling point in the FC Barcelona program, but in a more limited offensive role, he should be able to provide a consistent effort and some valuable lineup flexibility to his team.
Egor Demin- BYU, 6’9, Wing
Egor Demin left the Real Madrid program on a high note after clinching the ANGT Finals win in Berlin back in May. There, the Russian 6’9 Wing played some of his best basketball and demonstrated that his competitiveness and impact on both ends of the floor belongs to the high level. Demin’s mix of size and skill is appealing, especially considering that it is easy to identify the areas where he can gain consistency and how his game will benefit from the physical developments that will happen in the next stage. There are not many players with his body who can impact the game both in as many ways as him. However, in his specific case, it will be essential to go step by step because the BIG 12 is really demanding.
Demin’s fit in Coach Kevin Young system will be fun to follow. The former Phoenix Suns Associate Head Coach has the tools to implement a dynamic offense with multiple ball-handlers, and his fit as a playmaker who can contribute in a secondary role or operate off the catch looks matches the requirements of this scheme. If the Real Madrid product can step up as a consistent spot-up shooter from behind the three-point line, his value will increase, and he will have an easier adaptation to the Conference. On the other hand, while his body and athleticism obviously have some ways to go, his defensive contribution off the ball and excellent size should bring some immediate value to the table.
Liutauras Lelevicius- Oregon State, 6’7, Wing
Oregon State, a program that will count with six European players in the 2024/25 season, got a good one with Liutauras Lelevicius. The Zalgiris Kaunas product, who played last for Lietkabelis Panevezys at the LKL and Eurocup level, will find in the CBB landscape a shorter path to playing time than the one that was shaping for him. Standing at 6’7, the Lithuanian SF is a proven sharpshooter with beautiful shooting mechanics who can bring some value as a driver off closeouts. We saw him leading with important roles with the Lithuanian youth categories NT, and he used to leave good sensations in an increased role.
Lelevicius will enter his first CBB season as a 21-year-old player who should be able to contribute right away for his team. Oregon State lost many of their 2023/24 main contributors such as Jordan Pope, Tyler Bilodeau and Dexter Akanno, and that’s why adding a veteran Freshman is especially valuable for them. Oregon State also added Maxim Logue to their Frontcourt rotation: Logue, a 2005-born C, will bring to the table some athleticism and high levels of motor and activity. Standing at 6’9, Logue still needs to see how the game slows down to his eyes, but there’s always room for a player with his attributes.
Urban Klavzar- Florida, 6’1, Guard
Urban Klavzar is a well-known name in the European basketball universe. He was an important player for Real Madrid’s program, and his scoring explosions have always been valuable for the teams he’s been playing for. The 6’1 Slovenian guard was also a key piece for the Slovenian U20 NT run this Summer, that competed for the first place in the Championship against France until the last minute of action.
Klavzar is a small-sized guard with a clear go-to skill: three-point shooting. He can create his own looks off the dribble using a few dribbles, and he also can make an impact as an off-movement shooter: because of his lower-body strength and motor, he’s unpredictable coming off screens and squares up really well for his shot. Let’s add to the mix that he’s smart enough to understand his gravity and has added some mid-range and non-restricted area counters to his game. Klavzar projects as an immediate valuable contributor because it’s easy to identify what he can do and also because of his character: something that stands out in his game is the confidence in himself, as well as the next-play mentality that separates good shooters from great shooters. It will be challenging for him to stay at the required level on defense, given that the impact that a player of his size can have off the ball is very limited, and he will be a target for switches against certain opponents. If he’s able to overcome this and succeed as an on the ball defender against guards, it all will come easier to him.
Tomislav Ivisic- Illinois, 7’1, Center
Last year, Zvonimir Ivisic enrolled in Kentucky, and this Summer has been the turn for the other brother. The former SC Derby player committed to Illinois, as well as Kasparas Jakucionis, and will bring to the table old-school big attributes to the rotation. Tomislav Ivisic will have to compete for a starting spot with Morez Johnson, another Freshman big that Illinois added to their depth chart this Summer and will compensate the rotation with more athleticism and energy.
Ivisic, 2003-born, is more of a conventional big. The best of his game comes when he can get post touches or be involved in pick&roll actions. In the recent seasons, we have seen him adding some perimeter shooting, but his skillset is entirely different from what his brother does. On the defensive end, Ivisic projects as a drop big who should avoid being exposed on the perimeter. Most of his success on this end will come down to how he develops his communication and awareness to stay at the required level.
Fedor Zugic- Creighton, 6’6, Wing
Creighton added a 2003-born, veteran wing with huge professional experience at demanding levels this Summer. Fedor Zugic is a talented 6’6 shotmaking wing who has already competed at the highest stages with teams such as Ratiopharm Ulm, who is expected to have an immediate contribution for Creighton on the offensive end. He scored more than 12 points per game at the FIBA Europe Cup level and over 10 points per game at the BBL level while shooting over 37% from the three-point line, so there’s not much more to add here.
Zugic, as well as some other players mentioned previously and some others that will head to CBB in the foreseeable future, should be seen as players with short-term value who will provide high floor and raise the competitive hopes of their teams. He will likely embrace a more important role than the one he could envision for himself in Europe this season, play an important role in building an ideal scenario for Ryan Kalbrenner, who will benefit from sharing the court with a player with Zugic’s offensive gravity.
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