The 2025 Euroleague Final Four in Abu Dhabi features a blend of elite international experience, NBA pedigree, and a strong showing from former college student-athletes. On the rosters of AS Monaco, Fenerbahçe, Olympiacos, and Panathinaikos, 31 players once suited up in U.S. college uniforms; a testament to the global reach and long-term value of the American collegiate system.
This analysis highlights those players, showcasing trends and data points that reflect how the U.S. college pathway continues to shape the highest levels of European basketball.
Former U.S. college student-athletes in the 2025 Euroleague Final Four
| 🏀 | 🛂 | Player | School/s | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASM | 🇺🇸🇬🇷 | Nick Calathes | Florida | NCAA D1 |
| ASM | 🇺🇸 | Mike James | Eastern Arizona, Lamar | JUCO, NCAA D1 |
| ASM | 🇺🇸🇷🇸 | Jordan Loyd | Furman, Indianapolis | NCAA D1, D2 |
| ASM | 🇺🇸🇫🇷 | Terry Tarpey | William & Mary | NCAA D1 |
| ASM | 🇺🇸 | Jaron Blossomgame | Clemson | NCAA D1 |
| ASM | 🇺🇸 | Vitto Brown | Wisconsin | NCAA D1 |
| ASM | 🇺🇸🇬🇳 | Alpha Diallo | Providence | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇺🇸 | Errick McCollum | Goshen | NAIA |
| FEN | 🇺🇸🇹🇷 | Scottie Wilbekin | Florida | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇨🇦 | Khem Birch | Pittsburgh, UNLV | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇨🇦 | Dyshawn Pierre | Dayton | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇺🇸 | Wade Baldwin | Vanderbilt | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇺🇸 | Nigel Hayes | Wisconsin | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇺🇸 | Bonzie Colson Jr. | Notre Dame | NCAA D1 |
| FEN | 🇺🇸 | Devon Hall | Virginia | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸🇦🇿 | Shaquielle McKissic | Edmonds CC, Arizona State | JUCO, NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸🇬🇷 | Thomas Walkup | Stephen F. Austin | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇨🇦🇬🇷 | Naz Long | Iowa State | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸🇬🇷 | Tyler Dorsey | Oregon | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸 | Alec Peters | Valparaiso | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸 | Nigel Williams-Goss | Washington, Gonzaga | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸 | Keenan Evans | Texas Tech | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸 | Saben Lee | Vanderbilt | NCAA D1 |
| OLY | 🇺🇸 | Moses Wright | Georgia Tech | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇺🇸🇪🇸 | Lorenzo Brown | NC State | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇬🇷 | Ioannis Papapetrou | Texas | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇺🇸 | Jerian Grant | Notre Dame | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇺🇸 | Kendrick Nunn | Illinois, Oakland | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇸🇸 | Wenyen Gabriel | Kentucky | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇬🇷 | Kostas Mitoglou | Wake Forest | NCAA D1 |
| PAO | 🇹🇷 | Omer Yurtseven | NC State, Georgetown | NCAA D1 |
Photo: Kostas Mitoglou #44 representing Wake Forest University
🔍 Numbers Breakdown
| Team | Student-Athletes |
|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 ⚪ Monaco | 7 |
| 🇹🇷 🟡 Fenerbahce | 8 |
| 🇬🇷 🔴 Olympiacos | 9 |
| 🇬🇷 🟢 Panathinaikos | 7 |
| Experience in | Student-Athletes |
|---|---|
| NCAA Division 1 | 30 |
| NCAA Division 2 | 1 |
| NAIA | 1 |
| NJCAA (Junior College) | 2 |
Photo: Thomas Walkup #0 representing Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
🤯 Undrafted Success Rate
- 21 of those 31 players went undrafted
Yet most play critical roles in Europe’s top competition! This is proof that the U.S. college competitions are not just a stepping stone to the NBA but also the global pro scene.
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Every North American played in a U.S. college program
One of the most telling insights from the 2025 Euroleague Final Four is that every American and Canadian player competing in Abu Dhabi came through the U.S. college basketball system. It’s the standard route for North American talent aiming to reach professional heights, whether in the NBA or Euroleague.
Embed from Getty ImagesPhoto: Ioannis Papapetrou #33 representing the University of Texas Longhorns
In contrast, only two Greek players in the 2025 Euroleague Final Four have studied and competed in U.S. colleges. While a few others with dual citizenship or naturalized status hold Greek passports (e.g. Thomas Walkup), they developed their game in the collegiate environment. This sharp disparity isn’t about talent gaps, it highlights just how selective, competitive, and globally sought-after college recruiting is.
Recent NCAA updates have expanded Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and allowed athletes greater flexibility to monetize their brand. As a result, U.S. colleges are becoming more appealing to top international talent, including European prospects, reshaping how programs scout and compete for future stars.
💡 Fun Fact: Georgios Papagiannis
Even though Papagiannis never attended a US college program, Monaco’s center played basketball at Westtown School (West Chester, Pennsylvania) as a high school junior.
📊 Impact Across the Euroleague Playoffs
During the final stretch of the Euroleague path toward the Final Four, the coaches of the four qualifying teams trusted 48 players with playing time in the intense quarterfinal series. Among those, 25 players had experience in U.S. college basketball.
- That’s 52%
The presence of so many former student-athletes in the 2025 Euroleague Final Four is no coincidence. Their diverse paths through JUCO, transfers, undrafted status, and dual citizenship reflect a reality that’s lately overlooked: 👉 the U.S. college basketball system remains one of the most impactful development systems in the world.