MaxPreps Marks 600 Junior All-Americans Since 2010

Italian basketball players have increasingly made their mark in the NBA, with Danilo Gallinari and Simone Fontecchio as notable examples. Gallinari, after a successful career in Italy, played for several NBA teams before moving to Puerto Rico's Vaqueros de Bayamón in 2025. Simone Fontecchio, who overcame early setbacks in the NBA draft, found success in European leagues before joining the Utah Jazz and later the Detroit Pistons, where he is now viewed as a key contributor to the team's improvement in the Eastern Conference. The growing presence and impact of Italian players in the U.S. basketball scene reflect Italy’s expanding sports influence beyond soccer.