Tarik Biberovic, alongside Joel Parra
The NCAA continues to challenge European basketball. It is no longer just about plucking talents from the continent’s top academies—now, U.S. universities are targeting some of the brightest young stars already playing in the Euroleague.
In Italy, Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna will both lose Quinn Ellis and Saliou Niang next season, as they head to America after receiving lucrative offers that would place them among the highest-paid players in Europe. Ellis, who could earn over €2 million net for a single season, is expected to play for St. John’s University next year and return to Milan after March Madness to finish the season with the Italian club.
Quinn Ellis defends Will Clyburn during a Euroleague game between Barcelona and Olimpia Milano
**NCAA Sets Sights on Biberovic**
Ellis and Niang may not be household names, but on the other side of the spectrum is Tarik Biberovic. At 25, he is one of the best forwards in the Euroleague and a prominent figure in the competition. Born in Bosnia but holding dual Turkish citizenship, Biberovic is a key warrior for Sarunas Jasikevicius at Fenerbahçe. Last season, he helped the team win the Euroleague, and at the end of next week, he aims to defend the continental crown in Athens. Olympiacos, coached by Georgios Bartzokas, will be their opponent in the battle for a spot in the final. This season, Biberovic is averaging 11.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in just over 24 minutes on the court. From beyond the arc, the Fenerbahçe forward is shooting above 41%, and in the playoffs against Zalgiris Kaunas, he raised that to 56% from three-point range.
**LSU Offers $7 Million to Fenerbahçe Forward**
In recent hours, Eurohoops reported that Louisiana State University has made Biberovic an offer of $7 million gross, which amounts to around €3 million net. According to the portal, only Vasilije Micic (Hapoel), Shane Larkin (Efes), Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos), and Kendrick Nunn and Nigel Hayes-Davis (Panathinaikos) are earning more than that this season in the Euroleague.
Despite the interest, the player is said to have rejected the proposal, as his sole focus is on Fenerbahçe and finishing the season by winning both the Euroleague and the Turkish League titles. Last summer, Biberovic signed a contract extension with the Turkish club, and it remains to be seen whether he will explore his NBA options after the current campaign ends.
Tarik Biberovic, Fenerbahçe player
**Grizzlies Hold His NBA Rights**
His NBA rights belong to the Memphis Grizzlies, who selected him with the 56th pick in the 2023 draft. This is an asset to consider for a franchise that finished the 2025/26 season in 13th place in the Western Conference with just 25 wins, three more than the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz, who shared the worst record in the conference.
