Spanish basketball has taken a historic step with the creation of the Under-22 League, a pioneering competition that will attempt to stem the flow of talent to American universities and strengthen the national pool of young players. It will be officially presented this Wednesday at the Higher Sports Council (CSD), with representatives from the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), the Association of Basketball Clubs (ACB), and the government in attendance.
The initiative, endorsed by the CSD, will feature the participation of Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports; Elisa Aguilar, president of the FEB; Antonio Martín, president of the ACB; and José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, president of the CSD, who will explain the details of this new competition this week.
A competition system yet to be defined
Although the Under-22 League is now a reality, its competition system is still being defined. It has not been confirmed whether all ACB teams will participate in the championship, but it is known that it will include a minimum quota of six eligible players, as is the case in other competitions organized by the FEB.
The main objective of this league is to offer an attractive alternative for young Spanish talents, who in recent years have opted for American universities due to the contracts and opportunities they offer.
The brain drain, a growing problem
The most recent case is that of Mario Saint-Supery, Unicaja’s international point guard, who will join the list of Spanish players who have decided to continue their training in the United States. Other prominent names such as Baba Miller, Aday Mara, and Almansa are already competing in the American university system, which has caused concern in Spanish basketball.
In addition to Saint-Supery, young players such as Sidi Gueye (Real Madrid), Guillermo del Pino (Unicaja), and Dame Sarr (Barcelona) have also chosen to seek opportunities outside Spain, reinforcing the need for initiatives such as the U22 League.
Financial incentives and planned schedule
To encourage club participation, the competition will include a financial incentive of €200,000 for teams that join the project. Although the schedule has not yet been finalized, the initial idea is for games to be played on Fridays or Saturdays, trying not to coincide—as far as possible—with the ACB schedule.
