@RayLesterHoops

Former NCAA D1 starter & European pro | Player Development, NextUp Academy | Building Scandinavia → U.S. college basketball pathways.

 Sweden 🇸🇪 | Chicago 🇺🇸
nextupacademy.se/
Joined August 2026
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Basketball took me from Chicago to NCAA D1 and pro basketball in Europe. Now I’m helping NextUp Academy develop Scandinavian talent and build responsible U.S. college pathways. Development. Honest evaluation. The right fit. Here to connect with coaches & scouts. #CollegeHoops
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Ray Lester - NextUp Pathway retweeted
Todd Franklin@ToddFranklin34Oct 1
Looking down the river running my the VU campus on the morning of the first day of official practice ! The calm before the storm ! Family business !
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European players: talent alone does not prepare you for college basketball in America. I played NCAA D1 and JUCO basketball before later playing professionally in Europe. Here are 5 adjustments players and families should understand before making the move. 🧵👇
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A U.S. college wanting you is only step one. Before committing, verify your role, development plan, academic fit, total cost, eligibility, visa timeline and what is actually in writing. The highest level isn’t always the right fit. Choose your future, not just a logo. 🏀 #NCAA
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NCAA Division I’s age-based eligibility model has been adopted, but it is not guaranteed “5-for-5.” For prospects entering college in fall 2027 or later, age and full-time enrollment timing matter. Enrollment at an international university can start the clock.
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Plan before enrolling. ncaa.org/eligibility-center/…

NCAA Division I and II Age-Based Eligibility Rules: Eligibility 101 - NCAA.org

The official athletics website for the NCAA.org

ncaa.org
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Scoring gets attention. Coaches recruit players they can trust: athletes with a translatable skill, basketball IQ, consistency, coachability and room to grow. The best level is where you can earn a role and develop. International prospects: DM “PATHWAY.” #BasketballRecruiting
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6’6” international forward from North Macedonia seeking the right U.S. college opportunity. 🇲🇰 • Senior National Team • Professional/ABA League 2 experience • 7.1 PPG | 5.1 RPG | 52.7% 2PT • Physical, high-energy and team-first Coaches: DM for film and full profile. 🏀
🤖 Made with AI
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College coaches: 5’9” Egyptian guard, 2027 prospect, 3.4 GPA. 2025 U16 AfroBasket champion and Egypt’s leading scorer (11.0 PPG). 2026 U17 World Cup: 11.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG as Egypt finished 9th. DM for verified film + full profile. #CollegeHoops
🤖 Made with AI
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The best college opportunity is not always the highest division. It is the level where a player can earn trust, develop, contribute and graduate. Fit matters more than the logo.
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A highlight reel earns attention. Full-game film earns trust. Coaches need to see pace, decision-making, defensive possessions, body language and what happens after mistakes. The possessions a player would normally cut out often tell you the most.
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When I evaluate a young guard, the first question is not “How many points?” It is: Can he create an advantage, read the second defender and make the next decision on time? Production matters. Processing speed travels.
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College coaches: 6’4” Georgian PG, 2026 prospect. Georgia U16/U18 national team experience plus senior-level competition in Poland and Georgia. 2025–26 U22: 12.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.1 APG. Big, physical two-way playmaker. DM for verified film + full profile. #CollegeHoops
🤖 Made with AI
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