By Lluc Ponsarnau

The U22 League is having a clear impact on youth basketball in Spain. When the league project was first introduced, many logical questions arose. Would this league prevent young players from leaving for the United States? Could it compete with the NCAA?

The reality is that it cannot. The players who left are not coming back, and those who have the opportunity to leave will likely do so anyway. In that sense, the league is not changing the dynamic. However, it has opened up opportunities for a different type of player.

At the moment, the league is composed of top-level U18 players and second-tier players born between 2004 and 2007. In Spain, the elite prospects from the 2004–2007 generations are either already playing in the ACB (Sergio de Larrea, Bassala Bagayoko, Michael Ruzic) or have crossed the pond and are competing, for the most part, in the NCAA.

The players who have truly benefited from the emergence of this league are the second-tier prospects born between 2004 and 2007, those transitioning from youth categories to senior level but not yet ready to compete in demanding environments such as the ACB or the Primera FEB.

This competition has provided them with a structure that allows them to compete weekly against players at similar stages of physical and basketball development. At this age, playing consistent minutes is extremely valuable, as it helps players develop decision-making and adapt to different game contexts.

Being part of a professional structure also gives ACB clubs the opportunity to retain older players, effectively bridging the gap between the professional team and the U18 level.
The league is divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, based on competitive level. There are interesting players in both groups. In Group A, we find a significant amount of talent combined with very intriguing physical potential. In Group B, it is more difficult to find that same combination of talent and physical upside.

Group A
At the moment, Barça leads Group A, having lost just two games in the first phase. Most of the roster is made up of 2009-born players, meaning they belong to the 2027 class in terms of college eligibility. Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje is establishing himself as one of the best players in the league, showing consistently high production and a potential ceiling that is difficult to define. Mohamed Dabone remains the most outstanding prospect in Spanish youth basketball. However, his development in terms of game understanding still leaves room for improvement. Add to that Kusturica, Sayon Keita, and Siftar;  a very difficult team to beat when everyone is in form.

Real Madrid appears to be the second-best team. The Amosov–Frolov–Almansa trio allows them to compete with anyone, mainly thanks to their physical tools. The 2009-born Turkish point guard Omer Kutluay has been very dominant as a primary ball-handler due to his pick-and-roll game. He consistently finds effective solutions against different coverages (hedge & plug, flat, switch).

Zaragoza invested heavily in the summer to build a strong U22 core, and it has paid off. They present an interesting mix of senior players (U22–U19) and young prospects already integrated into the club’s development system. Aleksandr Savkov is a major threat in spot-up situations, with unlimited range and a very quick release. Matija Lukic has grown throughout the season, appearing in several European games with the first team and making his ACB debut. Meanwhile, 2010-born center Soumalia Keita has shown flashes of high potential, even if his performances against seniors remain inconsistent.

Joventut Badalona is struggling with consistency and stability. Humberto Ruiz shows the potential to become a 3-and-D ACB-level player, competing with strong personality. Diego Niebla probably has the highest ceiling on the roster, operating frequently off the dribble with a high volume of pull-ups. His development as a player will depend on how he reacts and what he can bring to the team on poor shooting days. Matej Buben has been an interesting surprise, stretching the floor from the center position. However, he still has significant room to improve in pick-and-roll defense, lacking the size to consistently drop or flat, and the mobility to hedge effectively.

Manresa features several interesting names, starting with Gerard Fernández. Gerard has played more games with the first team (ACB + EuroCup) than with the U22 squad, likely due to his pro-ready body and a style that fits better with first-team needs. Lucas Sánchez operates as the primary ball-handler and takes on leadership responsibilities thanks to his outstanding court vision. His shooting mechanics, however, raise some questions for the next level. Guillem Ecker has shown flashes as well, he still lacks the physical tools to consistently compete in this league, but projects as a potential catch-and-shoot threat.

Burgos is emerging as one of the surprises of the season. After earning promotion, they are competing very well in Group A. Their key player is Joaquín Taboada. The Uruguayan forward has broken out as the top scorer in the competition. A skilled player with a powerful, compact upper body, he knows how to use it effectively. Taboada understands the game, makes his teammates better, and stands out for his verticality. He tends to make the right decision when driving to his left.

Group B
Valencia has one of the youngest rosters in the league, with most of the players born in 2008 and 2009. They have struggled to find consistency throughout the season, with frequent ups and downs from their prospects. Roger Villarejo has seen limited minutes due to injuries, while Miguel Sousa and Daniel Osayi continue to show intriguing physical tools but remain inconsistent in their impact. Latvian forward Tomas Talcis is gradually establishing himself as one of the most interesting names in the group. He shows the ability to create advantages in spot-up situations and runs the floor well in transition. Talcis contributes to winning through solid rebounding fundamentals and versatility as an on-ball defender.

Girona relies heavily on a core of local players. This season, the name that has emerged is Khory Brunot, a French forward born in 2006. He is gaining consistency as the season progresses. At the moment, his game is built around athleticism, attacking closeouts and playing aggressively in the open floor. However, his tactical defensive awareness and on-ball defense still have significant room for improvement.

Former Valencia Basket player Pau Torrens has positioned himself as one of the top scorers in Group B, now playing for Lleida. His powerful lower body and excellent change of pace allow him to score in a variety of situations. At this level, he is a reliable advantage creator in pick-and-roll and one-on-one scenarios. However, it is more difficult to project him in a higher-level context where he would have less usage and fewer on-ball responsibilities.

Another storyline to follow is Alonso de la Iglesia. Recently invited to join the Next Gen Team at the ANGE in Ulm, the 2010-born guard is also competing in this league with Unicaja and making a strong impact despite his team’s results. He shows maturity with the ball, consistently making the right reads without overcomplicating possessions. De la Iglesia has developed an advanced floater game, which he uses effectively when finishing near the rim.