This study examines the growth of international student-athletes in NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s basketball in the last decade, an era marked by significant structural shifts in college athletics. Using a comprehensive longitudinal database, the research tracks a dramatic increase in international participation. Clusters of international athletes are increasingly decentralized across college programs, with the number of rosters lacking any international players decreasing dramatically. While Europe remains the primary exporter for both genders, the women’s side shows a heavy concentration from Canada, Australia, and Spain, which together account for over 40% of their international cohort. Other prominent regions represented for both men and women include west Africa and eastern Europe.
One key finding of the research is the emergence of a “prep school filter” for athletes from the Global South. Men and women from Africa & Latin America are far more likely to attend a U.S. high school or preparatory academy before entering the NCAA compared to their European or Oceanic counterparts. This suggests a complex, gendered migration pipeline where athletes from developing regions often rely on the domestic U.S. educational system as a necessary bridge for athletic and academic recruitment. The data collected will serve as the foundation for several projects moving forward in the complex world of college basketball.