By Pietro Cristofori
The 2025/26 college basketball season has officially wrapped, and the transfer portal has once again reshaped rosters across the NCAA. Alongside intra-college movement, an increasing number of European prospects are now choosing the NCAA route directly from professional teams. Here are three European players who fit in the latter situation and have a chance to make an impact in college basketball over the upcoming seasons, bringing to the table international experience at the youth level.
Dominykas Daubaris - 2007, 6’10”, Power Forward, Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas
2025/26 Season Stats (Zalgiris Kaunas II, LTU2): 28.0 MPG, 10.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 55.4 2FG%, 29.7 3FG%, 85.3 FT%, 1.6 BPG
California has landed the commitment of 6’10” power forward Dominykas Daubaris from Žalgiris Kaunas. The Lithuanian forward has been one of the main standouts in this season’s NKL (LTU2), carrying a high offensive load for his team. He was also involved in some games with Žalgiris’ first team in LTU1.
Mainly known as a consistent spot-up shooter with dynamic threat on the perimeter, Daubaris has a chance to make an immediate impact on Mark Madsen’s team. He has legit athleticism and explosiveness to attack closeouts, along with the potential to add a dimension in the paint once his tools fully develop. He lacks high-major strength and experience in order to be a plug-and-play player, but he should add kilos easily thanks to his physical archetype. Muscular and broad-shouldered, he still has margin to fill out. He projects as a highly efficient role player and doesn’t need the ball in his hands a lot to be productive. Daubaris suffered an ACL injury back in 2023, and he has long been considered among the best PF in his age group in Europe.
Overall, Daubaris projects as a development piece in Cal’s roster in his first year, where he could play some minutes thanks to his role player archetype at the 4, by hitting spot-up threes and providing versatility and size on the perimeter. From year 2 on, he might be able to pick up bigger minutes, embracing a starter role in best case scenario. He has All-Conference upside at the High-Major level, and in his senior year he will have a chance to do so.
Mark Mahmutovic Morano - 2007, 6’6”, Small Forward, Slovenia, Syracuse
2025/26 Season Stats (Helios Domzale, SVN1): 32.1 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 53.6 2FG%, 46.0 3FG%, 75.0 FT%, 1.0 STL
Another high level offensive weapon, Mark Mahmutovic Morano lands at Syracuse to play under first-year coach Gerry McNamara. The 6’6” SF has been a top-15 scorer in Slovenia’s first league this season.
Morano scores at a high level, finding ways to impact the game offensively in multiple ways. The main concern regarding his high-major impact is his athleticism, which is decent, but he will need to prove he can make up for that with his feel and overall versatility. Morano can handle the ball on the perimeter and operate in the pick-and-roll, finding teammates effectively. His elite skill is his three-point shot: he has consistently maintained high percentages from behind the arc throughout his youth career, and he has translated that to the pro level. He can shoot from both spot-up and pull-up situations, making him a talented scorer. Despite not being the most athletically gifted player, Morano has proven capable of adapting his game to multiple levels. A leader of Slovenia’s 2007 generation for a long time, he left Cedevita Olimpija in Summer 2025 to pursue his professional career with Helios Domžale.
Overall, Mahmutovic can bring a big impact right away from the bench as a 6th man, thanks to his scoring versatility and translatability to higher levels. As for Daubaris, he will be an All-Conference Player at the High-Major level in his senior year. He could develop into an Euroleague-level contributor once he gets back to Europe.
Zak Smrekar - 2006, 6’7”, Small Forward, Slovenia, Boston College
2025/26 Season Stats (Krka Novo Mesto, SVN1): 19.7 MPG, 11.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 63.2 2FG%, 32.6 3FG%, 78.2 FT%, 1.0 STL
Arguably the most complete prospect in this group, Zak Smrekar is the first European pickup for coach Luke Murray at Boston College in his new tenure.
The 6’7” swiss-army-knife forward is one of the best connectors in the 2006 European generation, having big pro experience already with his hometown team Krka Novo Mesto. His mix of athleticism and size is high level. His skillset, which allows him to play on the perimeter and act as a handler on many occasions, gives him a unique archetype that translates well to the pro level. He’s versatile and can fit alongside players who want the ball in their hands. High basketball IQ. Smrekar has a chance to play in the NBA one day if he’s able to add a reliable spot-up shot to his arsenal. He can defend multiple positions thanks to his good footwork and size. He’s strong, giving him the ability to play right away as a starter at the high-major level, especially for a team needing a change of direction like Boston College. In the early stages of his youth career, Smrekar wasn’t considered the top prospect in the 2006 Slovenian generation, but he has made a strong case for that status over the last two seasons.
Overall, Smrekar projects as a starter in his first year at the High-Major level, playing at the 3 spot. He has NBA potential, and with the right fit and development he might be in NBA Draft conversations in the next few seasons, as his NCAA career moves forward. He provides size and versatility, and this will allow him to fit into multiple systems.
The 2025/26 college basketball season has officially wrapped, and the transfer portal has once again reshaped rosters across the NCAA. Alongside intra-college movement, an increasing number of European prospects are now choosing the NCAA route directly from professional teams. Here are three European players who fit in the latter situation and have a chance to make an impact in college basketball over the upcoming seasons, bringing to the table international experience at the youth level.
Dominykas Daubaris - 2007, 6’10”, Power Forward, Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas
2025/26 Season Stats (Zalgiris Kaunas II, LTU2): 28.0 MPG, 10.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 55.4 2FG%, 29.7 3FG%, 85.3 FT%, 1.6 BPG
California has landed the commitment of 6’10” power forward Dominykas Daubaris from Žalgiris Kaunas. The Lithuanian forward has been one of the main standouts in this season’s NKL (LTU2), carrying a high offensive load for his team. He was also involved in some games with Žalgiris’ first team in LTU1.
Mainly known as a consistent spot-up shooter with dynamic threat on the perimeter, Daubaris has a chance to make an immediate impact on Mark Madsen’s team. He has legit athleticism and explosiveness to attack closeouts, along with the potential to add a dimension in the paint once his tools fully develop. He lacks high-major strength and experience in order to be a plug-and-play player, but he should add kilos easily thanks to his physical archetype. Muscular and broad-shouldered, he still has margin to fill out. He projects as a highly efficient role player and doesn’t need the ball in his hands a lot to be productive. Daubaris suffered an ACL injury back in 2023, and he has long been considered among the best PF in his age group in Europe.
Overall, Daubaris projects as a development piece in Cal’s roster in his first year, where he could play some minutes thanks to his role player archetype at the 4, by hitting spot-up threes and providing versatility and size on the perimeter. From year 2 on, he might be able to pick up bigger minutes, embracing a starter role in best case scenario. He has All-Conference upside at the High-Major level, and in his senior year he will have a chance to do so.
Mark Mahmutovic Morano - 2007, 6’6”, Small Forward, Slovenia, Syracuse
2025/26 Season Stats (Helios Domzale, SVN1): 32.1 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 53.6 2FG%, 46.0 3FG%, 75.0 FT%, 1.0 STL
Another high level offensive weapon, Mark Mahmutovic Morano lands at Syracuse to play under first-year coach Gerry McNamara. The 6’6” SF has been a top-15 scorer in Slovenia’s first league this season.
Morano scores at a high level, finding ways to impact the game offensively in multiple ways. The main concern regarding his high-major impact is his athleticism, which is decent, but he will need to prove he can make up for that with his feel and overall versatility. Morano can handle the ball on the perimeter and operate in the pick-and-roll, finding teammates effectively. His elite skill is his three-point shot: he has consistently maintained high percentages from behind the arc throughout his youth career, and he has translated that to the pro level. He can shoot from both spot-up and pull-up situations, making him a talented scorer. Despite not being the most athletically gifted player, Morano has proven capable of adapting his game to multiple levels. A leader of Slovenia’s 2007 generation for a long time, he left Cedevita Olimpija in Summer 2025 to pursue his professional career with Helios Domžale.
Overall, Mahmutovic can bring a big impact right away from the bench as a 6th man, thanks to his scoring versatility and translatability to higher levels. As for Daubaris, he will be an All-Conference Player at the High-Major level in his senior year. He could develop into an Euroleague-level contributor once he gets back to Europe.
Zak Smrekar - 2006, 6’7”, Small Forward, Slovenia, Boston College
2025/26 Season Stats (Krka Novo Mesto, SVN1): 19.7 MPG, 11.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 63.2 2FG%, 32.6 3FG%, 78.2 FT%, 1.0 STL
Arguably the most complete prospect in this group, Zak Smrekar is the first European pickup for coach Luke Murray at Boston College in his new tenure.
The 6’7” swiss-army-knife forward is one of the best connectors in the 2006 European generation, having big pro experience already with his hometown team Krka Novo Mesto. His mix of athleticism and size is high level. His skillset, which allows him to play on the perimeter and act as a handler on many occasions, gives him a unique archetype that translates well to the pro level. He’s versatile and can fit alongside players who want the ball in their hands. High basketball IQ. Smrekar has a chance to play in the NBA one day if he’s able to add a reliable spot-up shot to his arsenal. He can defend multiple positions thanks to his good footwork and size. He’s strong, giving him the ability to play right away as a starter at the high-major level, especially for a team needing a change of direction like Boston College. In the early stages of his youth career, Smrekar wasn’t considered the top prospect in the 2006 Slovenian generation, but he has made a strong case for that status over the last two seasons.
Overall, Smrekar projects as a starter in his first year at the High-Major level, playing at the 3 spot. He has NBA potential, and with the right fit and development he might be in NBA Draft conversations in the next few seasons, as his NCAA career moves forward. He provides size and versatility, and this will allow him to fit into multiple systems.
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