A player’s college career helps shape what comes next, and different coaches look for different things in that experience. Looking at which college graduates SLB clubs recruit, and what those players have done since leaving, can reveal the thinking behind a squad.
Straight Out of College
Every club enters 2026/27 with at least one player who left college this year. Leicester share the largest group with Manchester, with the two clubs accounting for 10 of the league’s 27 players entering their first season after college.
| Club | First Season After College |
|---|---|
| Leicester Riders | 5 |
| Manchester Basketball | 5 |
| Liverpool Basketball | 4 |
| Cheshire Phoenix | 3 |
| Surrey 89ers | 3 |
| Bristol Flyers | 2 |
| Caledonia Gladiators | 2 |
| London Lions | 1 |
| Newcastle Eagles | 1 |
| Sheffield Sharks | 1 |
* College-year information comes from Eurobasket and official team sources. Counts include NCAA and U SPORTS players.
Two seasons ago, four members of Leicester’s regular starting five had left college the previous summer. Rob Paternostro took that team to the O2, where they beat Newcastle to win the 2024/25 play-offs. Those players carried responsibility in a team that won, giving Paternostro a reason to trust that approach again.
After a difficult 2025/26 season, this summer’s recruitment suggests he backs himself to repeat that work. Identifying players ready to contribute is part of it. Paternostro must then find roles where they can succeed and help them adjust through the season.
Cheshire Look for What Others Missed
Speaking to The SLB Show ahead of the season, coach Ben Thomas explained what he looks for in players starting their professional careers.
We try and find these players who probably aren’t where they should be yet … because either they’ve been overlooked or had a bad first year
Cheshire have more players entering their second season after college than any other club.
| Club | Second Season After College |
|---|---|
| Cheshire Phoenix | 6 |
| Liverpool Basketball | 4 |
| Bristol Flyers | 2 |
| Leicester Riders | 2 |
| Surrey 89ers | 2 |
| Caledonia Gladiators | 1 |
| London Lions | 1 |
| Manchester Basketball | 1 |
| Newcastle Eagles | 1 |
| Sheffield Sharks | 0 |
A difficult first season may tell Thomas as much about a player’s previous team as it does about his ability. Thomas looks for players whose strengths suit the way Cheshire play. A player who struggled elsewhere may have more to offer in a role that suits him better.
College Pedigree
Massey Ratings rank NCAA college basketball teams. Using each college’s ranking in the year a player left, we can compare the strength of their former teams. London have the largest group from colleges ranked in the top 100.
| Club | Top 100 in Final College Season |
|---|---|
| London Lions | 5 |
| Caledonia Gladiators | 2 |
| Liverpool Basketball | 2 |
| Sheffield Sharks | 2 |
| Surrey 89ers | 2 |
| Bristol Flyers | 1 |
| Cheshire Phoenix | 1 |
| Leicester Riders | 1 |
| Manchester Basketball | 1 |
| Newcastle Eagles | 0 |
As players build their professional careers, their performances since leaving college tell us more about their ability. Their college background still shows the strength of the team they came through, even as their professional record becomes more important.
What Coaches Value
A college background means something different in each squad. Looking at it alongside a player’s career since leaving helps explain what coaches see in their recruits and how they want those players to help.
