Three Months with EuroProBasket: The Reality of the Journey to Professional Basketball

My three-month internship with EuroPro gave me an interesting insight into youth basketball. What exactly is EuroProBasket and how does it work?

I could write a very detailed essay about everything they do, but in short, they help players on their journey toward professional basketball. They offer several programs that players can choose from, ranging from preparation for college to a professional career, as well as individual training and more. Once or twice a year, they also run a women’s program.

The length of the programs ranges from 3 weeks to 10 months. It depends on which program you choose, and to some extent, you can decide the duration yourself. Everything is based on individual agreement, so the schedule is tailored to you, and it doesn’t really matter whether you want to start in October, December, or February. To give you an idea of the pricing, a two-month college preparation program costs €2,900 without accommodation and €5,600 with accommodation. Of course, if you choose a longer stay, the average monthly cost decreases significantly with each additional month. In addition, they offer several camps throughout the year, and the biggest event is the European Summer League in the summer, where players play more games. Scouts and agents are present, looking for new players for the upcoming season. However, only players with prior professional basketball experience can apply for this program.

Personally, I see the lectures as one of the biggest benefits and most interesting parts. They cover how universities work in the United States and Europe, what opportunities exist in professional basketball in Europe, whether to have an agent or not, and what to expect, including salaries and benefits, or the lack of them. In this regard, I believe these are very valuable insights for players.

At the same time, it is important to clarify one thing, because some people mistakenly think that EuroPro acts as an agency or an agent. It does not. They simply help players with preparation and provide an introduction to this environment. They provide game footage, show players how to create highlight videos that can be sent to teams, and another benefit is their network of contacts with many teams across Europe and worldwide that occasionally look for players. They can connect players with these opportunities, but they are not agents who actively seek contracts or profit from placements.

Another major advantage is the environment. Players are based in one of the best and most active basketball centers in Europe. L’Alqueria del Basket has 9 indoor and 4 outdoor courts that operate from morning until night. Youth teams from Valencia Basket train there, along with other local clubs, and teams from all over the world come for training camps. On one side of the complex is the older Fonteta arena, and on the other side is the new Roig Arena, where EuroLeague and the top Spanish league are played, both for men and women. You can absorb new knowledge, experience, and connections like a sponge. For example, one day you might be having dinner with someone you don’t know, and the next day you find out he is a scout for the Miami Heat.

What does a typical week look like?

Players train twice a day and play at least one friendly game per week. They do not have an official team, so everything takes place outside of competition, usually on Wednesdays, and weekends are free for recovery and exploring the beauty of Spain.

Games are played either against local teams or against junior or cadet teams from Valencia Basket. As I mentioned earlier, L’Alqueria del Basket is used by teams from all over Europe for training camps, so you can also play against teams from countries like Poland or France. Occasionally, a player may catch the attention of a team and be invited for a tryout. If they perform well, they can join the team. Some players already have their own teams, so they only attend morning practices and train with their teams in the afternoon.

From time to time, a practice is replaced by an internal game between players within the program. During my time there, there were usually between 20 and 30 players, which was enough to form two competitive teams. If the women’s program was running at the same time, there were around 10 additional female players, but they followed their own separate program.

Training sessions typically last two hours, from 9 to 11 in the morning and from 15 to 17 in the afternoon. This allows enough time for recovery between sessions as well as free time after the afternoon block. On game days, only the morning practice takes place. The morning session focuses more on team play and concepts, while the afternoon sessions are organized into two groups. Players rotate after one hour between the court, where they work on individual skills, and the gym, where they focus on strength training.

Players who are part of the EuroPro Institute and study at a partner university may have a slightly adjusted schedule and can miss some training sessions depending on their academic requirements. Therefore, it is important for players to know that their attendance, punctuality, and overall approach are being tracked. It is monitored whether they arrive on time, whether they properly excuse themselves in case of absence (for example due to health reasons), and whether they communicate these absences in advance, as well as other aspects of their behaviour. Why is this important? If a team shows potential interest in a player, all of this information is shared with them. Teams are not only interested in what a player can do on the court, but especially in their character and ability to fit into a team environment.

What did I ultimately take away from EuroPro? I would summarize it best in the points below:

• Contacts – Definitely one of the best things. I had the opportunity to meet many new people whom I can reach out to if needed, and with whom I could also exchange valuable experiences.

• Precision – The differences are in the details, and here every single one was emphasized, whether during training and game preparation or during the sessions themselves. The best-performing system is the one that is well tuned.

• What you want, thousands of others want too – In a place like this, you quickly realize how many players want to become professionals. I used to want the same when I was younger. However, wanting is not enough. If you truly give it everything you have, the dream can become more achievable than you think. Maybe not at the exact level you originally imagined, but it is still within reach.

• Relationship with players – If you want players to follow you, you have to build that relationship. A short conversation before or after training, or even a simple joke, can make a big difference. And you do not need to be harsh for people to respect you.

• Clear and precise instructions – One of the things I must highlight about the head coach of the program, Pascal Meurs, is the way he communicated instructions. Very direct, precise, and to the point, which made everything clear.

• Management and division of work – This is a slightly reversed takeaway, but a very important one. After a longer time, I was in the role of assistant coach and at times felt that I could have been used more. It might have been different, but this is how I experienced it. Divide tasks, even small ones, and give space to your assistants. It makes your job easier, allows you to discover new things, and helps both sides develop in their roles.

• Multicultural exchange – You meet people from all over the world and realize that no matter where someone comes from, you can still connect and understand each other very well.

In conclusion, I want to say that I am extremely grateful for this experience. For the people I met, as well as for the experiences I gained, whether positive or negative, because I learned a lot from both. Ten years ago, I would hardly have imagined myself being in a place like this. It was an incredible experience that gave me a lot, and I can only say that I am looking forward to many more similar opportunities in the future.