CHAMPAIGN — The idea a men’s college basketball team might fill out holes in its roster with international players didn’t happen overnight.

A slow, but steady pipeline from Europe and countries like Canada and Australia, has happened for years.

Lauri Markkanen went directly from Helsinki Basketball Academy in Finland to Arizona. Domantas Sabonis played in Spain before winding up at Gonzaga. Both Moe Wagner and Franz Wagner were on the Alba Berlin roster in Germany before playing at Michigan.

The European influence on the college game is just more now, as the combination of a bigger platform for exposure stateside and the ability to get paid have led to a rising number of international prospects on college basketball rosters.

Like at Illinois, where Tuesday afternoon’s commitment from Mihailo Petrovic will give the Illini not just four international players on next year’s roster, but four players from the Balkans, to wear the orange and blue for the 2025-26 season. Petrovic, a 22-year-old Serbian guard, will join forces with Croatian post presences in 7-foot-1 Tomislav and 7-foot-2 Zvonimir Ivisic, along with 6-foot-9 Montenegrin forward David Mirkovic in Champaign next season.

“They’ve definitely embraced international recruiting,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony told The News-Gazette during a discussion of Illinois’ efforts overseas. “They’re recruiting everywhere.”

Everywhere this offseason just so happens to be in the Adriatic League, where all four international players set to be on the 2025-26 Illinois roster cut their teeth. The Ivisic twins both played for SC Derby — where Mirkovic now plays — and Petrovic has starred for Mega Superbet this season after playing professionally at various levels in Serbia since the 2020-21 season.

Petrovic is averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds this season for Mega Superbet. The 6-foot-3 guard has had seven double-doubles this season, including 28 points and 13 assists in Monday’s win against Cibona. Petrovic has also represented Serbia internationally, including his first appearance with the senior national team last November.

Illinois’ international recruiting efforts are the continuation of a growing trend for Brad Underwood and Co. Last season’s team featured Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis and Canadian wing Will Riley, who have both since declared for the 2025 NBA draft and will likely become the Illini’s first (and second) one-and-done draft picks.

Past Illinois teams have also included straight-from-Europe prospects Matic Vesel (Slovenia) and Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (Belgium), along with several international players that played high school basketball in the United States. The latter group included the likes of Greg Eboigbodin (Nigeria), Samba Kane (Senegal), Andres Feliz (Dominican Republic), Giorgi Bezhanishvili (Georgia) and Kofi Cockburn (Jamaica).

The level of prospect college basketball teams can secure is simply higher now. Few teams are recruiting Europe as aggressively as the Illini, with assistant coach Geoff Alexander spearheading those efforts, but their four won’t be the only international players on power conference rosters during the 2025-26 season.

“The playing time is probably the biggest draw,” Givony said about the recent influx of international players to college basketball. “It’s not always easy for 18-year-olds in Europe to find a place to get consistent minutes. To have a platform like this, for example at Illinois, I think that’s huge. Every game is on ESPN or on Fox. That’s important to these players.

“The fact you can get paid now — like really, really well — makes it pretty attractive when you think about the platform these guys have. It’s an experience. Going to college is fun, and these guys can get drafted in the first round, too. I think the whole package is very attractive to a lot of these kids.”

The 2025 NFL Draft runs from April 24-26, and several Iowa State football prospects are hoping to hear their name called and achieve their dream of going pro.

Cyclones star wide receiver Jayden Higgins highlights the team’s class of five players who were invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. They all have varying projections on if and when they’ll be selected, so here’s a look at the best-case scenario for each Iowa State prospect:

More: Iowa State football recruiting: 4-star quarterback Jett Thomalla commits to Cyclones

Jayden Higgins draft projection: Best-case scenario

According to NFL.com, Higgins is the most highly touted Cyclone in the 2025 class and is projected to be a “plus starter” at some point in his pro career.

His eighth-best athleticism score of all wideouts at the combine and a knack for consistently finding the end zone could shoot him up scouts’ draft boards. If so, Higgins’ best-case scenario could be vaulting into the first round.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (No. 32) could be a good fit, where Higgins could immediately fill the No. 3 receiver role, adding a needed dimension to the offense while not being tasked with significant responsibility right away.

The Ravens (No. 27), similarly, could use a big-bodied No. 3 receiver.

Jaylin Noel draft projection: Best-case scenario

With the third-best combine performance, according to NFL.com, and a 2024 season that saw him rank ninth in the nation in receiving yards (1,194) despite playing alongside another star receiver, Noel’s draft stock has surely risen in recent months.

Noel’s skillset – small, shifty, quick – fits perfectly in the modern NFL, where slot receivers are a key part of most offenses. His return ability on special teams adds another layer of production, one that teams are likely to put a premium on with the league’s evolving kickoff rules.

His best-case scenario would likely be a high second-round selection by a team that would use him on both offense and special teams right away. The Titans (No. 35) certainly need a spark in their offense, as do the Patriots (No. 38), and maybe Noel is the answer.

More: Iowa State football: Tracking Cyclones in spring transfer portal, a complete list (so far)

Darien Porter draft projection: Best-case scenario

A 4.3 40-yard dash while being 6-foot-3 and having second-best athleticism score of all cornerbacks in this draft, according to NFL.com, will make almost every NFL team excited about Porter.

On top of that, Porter was remarkably healthy throughout his college career, setting an Iowa State record with 64 games played over six seasons, even if he started just one full year (2024).

Despite his lack of starting experience, such traits are hard to come by, and a team picking Porter in the second round would be a big development for the DB.

The Jaguars (No. 36) or Buccaneers (No. 53), two of the worst passing defenses in 2024, could see Porter as a much-needed defensive piece for the future.

Jalen Travis draft projection: Best-case scenario

At 6-foot-8, Travis certainly has the size to stick at the NFL level, and his three years of starting experience at left tackle also give him an edge to be a contributor right away.

He notched the fourth-highest athleticism score of all offensive tackles at the combine, and if teams values his combination of size, experience and measurables, Travis could vault past his fifth-round projection.

If Travis could land in the fourth round to a team that is looking for him to develop as a backup left tackle, that is likely the ideal outcome.

Malik Verdon draft projection: Best-case scenario

Verdon has good size (6-foot-4) and is coming off a Second Team All-Big 12 campaign. Teams love drafting based on potential, and Verdon has the physical tools and toughness to entice teams who need safety depth.

If Verdon gets selected in the fifth round or in the sixth to a team with veteran leadership to help him develop, that is likely his best outcome.