As the NCAA and FIBA move toward a more formal partnership, the lines between college hoops and global basketball are starting to blur. With NIL, the United States has become a magnet for international talent. It has drawn names from all over the globe, from Finland to Senegal. And one such name to join the NCAA is the German forward Sananda Fru.
But why exactly are players like Fru leaving behind pro contracts in Europe to chase college hoops in the US? Fru might just have some answers/
Sananda Fru Opens Up on Harsh Realities of European Basketball: “Super Tough to Compete”
Sananda Fru is no ordinary transfer. He stands at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a top-25 national transfer ranking. And he just arrived at Louisville. For Fru, leaving the Bundesliga behind and committing to the Cardinals was about both basketball and opportunity. And it seems that’s the case for many European players.
“I feel like it’s easier to play in the US,” Fru said on a recent episode of The Field Of 68: After Dark. “Not easier, but I feel like you get better chances. Coaches trust you a bit more, and the other guys are in your age group, so it makes more sense for you to be playing.” That, right there, is the heart of it.
In Europe, Sananda Fru wasn’t battling peers, he was fighting for minutes against seasoned pros. “Here, it is like grown men,” Fru added. “They’ve been through all the programs, and it’s like super, super tough to compete for minutes.” It’s no wonder Fru calls the US “the best chance” for young kids chasing NBA dreams.
The NCAA is no doubt a playground for growth. As Fru sees it, “There are some great coaches, especially the individual work—it’s on a level by itself. European basketball’s got to step up a little bit in that direction.” That gap in individual development and the limited on-court exposure has become a dealbreaker for International players. But where the players see an opportunity, FIBA seems to be looking at a problem.
FIBA, the governing body, recently announced plans to formally engage with the NCAA to treat these moves like international club transfers. That could mean transfer fees, clearance letters, and eventually, a new financial structure for NCAA schools bringing in overseas stars. But why this change?
Well, Sananda Fru is not alone. As more young pros see the college route as a fast track to the NBA and potentially better pay, FIBA wants to protect its clubs’ investments. The NCAA, once considered amateur, is now looking more and more like a pro league in disguise. And names like Fru are part of that evolution.
After averaging 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks for Basketball Löwen Braunschweig, Sananda Fru is coming with a load of potential. In fact, Louisville coach Pat Kelsey even called him an “impact player for our program from Day 1.” And that is what coaches looking at the portal need.
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To European players, the opportunity to move is about visibility, and for colleges, it is about instant impact. It is truly a win-win. So, are players like Fru moving? Of course, they are. And if the NCAA and FIBA don’t find common ground soon, that pipeline may just flood.
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