First-Year International Talent
Valley coaches went hard after international players. While they are freshmen, many of these players have had years of international and professional experience.
Murray State’s ‘French Connection’
Miller went to Europe and came home with more than a tee-shirt. Mathis Courbon and Roman Domon are tall, talented and experienced players from France. Courbon is a 6’6 silky smooth wing and Domon is a 6’9 player that Racer watchers say is a capable point guard.
Miller says the European style of basketball is similar to the Murray State style. Both ‘French Conneciton’ players participated in their nation’s U18 teams and other international offerings.
Courbon played four seasons of Pro-B League hoops. Domon was part of the 2024 European U20 championship team and played five seasons of professional hoops in France.
Evansville’s Leif Moeller is a 6’7 guard that will do a lot of ball handling for the Purple Aces. He’s a 3.15 star recruit with three years of international and club experience. Coach David Ragland says Moeller is an outstanding athlete with a Division 1-ready body.
Murray State’s Lachlan Crate has several years of international experience playing on New Zealand’s U16, U18 and U19 teams and was named the defensive player of the U18 games in 2024.
Valparaiso’s Carter Hopoi is a 6’9 New Zealander who averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds for New Zealand’s U18 team.
Drake’s Okku Federiko would be on this list, but he redshirted at South Carolina. This is our ‘true freshman’ list. The Finnish-born Federiko will be an MVC game-changing player and may be the Valley’s best incoming international player.
Others to consider: Evansville’s James Dyson-Merwe (Australia); Indiana State’s Jo von Buggenhout (Belgium); Northern Iowa’s Levi Valdo (Cameroon); Valparaiso’s Sader Servilus (Canada).
This group of rookie talent could become a transformational class that pushes the Valley into a greater national notariety.