In a world that changes faster than ever before, basketball is hardly an exception. Take College Basketball and the arrival of NIL rights and Transfer Portal as the perfect example. This season players with ‘questionable’ NCAA eligibility have flooded American universities in large numbers. Whether they are undrafted seasoned pros from every corner of the world, an actual 2nd Round-Pick (James Nnaji), or G Leaguers back to school (Thierry Darlan, London Johnson), everyone wants a piece of the cake.

Despite the recent development in Charles Bediako’s case, the US collegiate sports system is in peril. For instance, the players we include in this piece might soon belong to a forgotten category: the overseas student-athlete who got a degree, fulfilled his NCAA eligibility and only earned some bucks towards the end of his college career. Luckily for us, these ‘rookies’ have chosen Europe to start their professional career instead of the NBA G League.

For the Backdoorpodcast, it’s time for a new series of articles and profiles where I dive into former international College Basketball players going pro and balling out all over Europe.

Alvaro Cárdenas

Very few young players have embraced the ‘trust the process’ motto in a more genuine way than Alvaro Cardenas. So much so that you might as well rename it ‘the trust yourself process’. From a virtually unknown 18-year-old point-guard without any college offers or experience with the youth national teams, to a 23-year-old starter for Spain in the last FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. To be fair, Cardenas had already made an impression alongside Great Osobor in the previous FIBA window last November.

ICYMI: encouraging start in the #FIBAWCQualifiers for Spain w/ former CBB guys Alvaro Cardenas & Great Osobor making their official NT debut in style

The PG+Big combo showed playmaking chops, shooting threat, rim running ways and some contagious energy in the road win over Denmark #LaFamilia

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— MaceoBaller (@maceoballer.bsky.social) 30 novembre 2025 alle ore 18:59

Cardenas’ unusual path includes a year in Prague with the Get Better Academy and then 4 seasons of steady progress in the Mountain West Conference, one of the best NCAA leagues outside the traditional Power-5 conferences.

Nice two-way sequence here w/ Cardenas’ switch on PNR defense, the steal and the lob in transition for Osobor’s two-handed jam

Watch out for the highlight reel when these two suit up for their national team

#FibaYouthBball #LaFamilia #CBBGlobal #BleedBlue #GoHuskies

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— MaceoBaller (@maceoballer.bsky.social) 30 novembre 2025 alle ore 19:30

PLAYER OUTLOOK

There are so much to like about Alvaro Cardenas. At first, you buy into the classic table-setter point-guard that keeps the offense ticking, controls the tempo and works hard on his own end. When you watch him closely, there are more layers to his game yet. The Spaniard is a high-IQ playmaker with abundant length, who swings the ball for open shots or keeps it tight in traffic, waiting for the right moment to attack defensive gaps. Cardenas’ playmaking instincts flourish in Pick-N-Roll and transition, focusing on the team’s strengths and mixing ball security with genuine highlight-reel flashes.

The fact that he’s not an explosive athlete, and on the small side at 6’1, has helped Cardenas to become a complete and well-rounded facilitator. He’s a natural running offense within a structure but can also rely on handles, timing and vision to create looks for others. In ball screen sets Cardenas often finds the roller via pocket passes, lobs or the jump-pass. He can certainly thread the needle in tight windows to feed cutters, or get the rock to the open man with the quick hitter/extra-pass as a secondary initiator, too.

If you haven’t seen enough of Cardenas’ passing and playmaking ability, here you are, a selection of one-handed dimes showcasing a ton of skill and accuracy, and with Peristeri forward Omar Payne as his main partner in crime.

BANKABLE SKILL

Although defense, team-first approach and physical growth have been essential for him since his days at San Jose State and Boise State, Cardenas’ 44% clip from deep is the key to understanding his actual impact with the pros. After 30-plus games between the Greek domestic league and Europe, Alvaro Cardenas gets up to 4.9pts/game off jumpers (ranks in the 96th percentile in Catch-N-Shoot ones per Synergy), which opens the lane for runners (1.8pts) and layups at the rim (3.2pts, making 66% of those).

Cardenas’ spot-up threat has been a treat for Peristeri. The Spaniard has a thing for guarded shots off the catch (99th percentile with 1.65 Points-Per-Shot) while still making 1.8pts/game in pull-ups off the dribble. Altogether, opposition teams identify Cardenas as a weapon to be respected from range, forcing his man to go over the screen and keep the D honest. I wouldn’t expect Cardenas to turn into a high-volume bucket-getter at this stage, but shooting gravity nails him as a secondary option with the ball in his hands or playing off another primary ball-handler/wing initiator.

#FibaYouthBball Alvaro Cardenas continued his impressive 1st pro season w/ a strong show for Spain in the #FIBAWC Qualifiers: 16/1/1 vs Ukraine

Steady growth as an all-around playmaker for the Boise State & San Jose St product, highlighted by his ability to make shots: 4/4 3P #GoingPro #LaFamilia

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— MaceoBaller (@maceoballer.bsky.social) 2 marzo 2026 alle ore 13:15

EXPECTATIONS

With Peristeri fighting for a spot in the semifinals of the FIBA EuroCup and chasing a spot in the Greek playoffs, it’s easy to forget it’s a learning curve kind of year for Cardenas with everything to play for. For his parent club Valencia, it’s the realization they were right betting on the young playmaker. They might even grant Cardenas a roster spot next season. Valencia is a well-known EuroLeague power stacked in the perimeter with top young ballers like Jean Montero or Sergio de Larea in their books, though. Because of his feel, motor and versatility, I have no doubts Cardenas can establish himself at the highest continental level, particularly working under head coach Pedro Martinez.

However, Valencia could very well go for a loan in Liga Endesa, so Cardenas keeps a high-usage rate early on (19.9% at Peristeri) and adjusts his promising off-ball production to tougher competition. Whatever happens, the likes of Alvaro Cardenas and Great Osobor (unfortunately sidelined with an ACL until the end of the year) have proved a point in Europe straight away. They shouldn’t be seen as pioneers but as the actual proof that, besides money, College Hoops can work wonders for the development of international prospects lacking playing time at home. The next Alvaro Cardenas is likely on his way to the NCAA right now.

Next page: Andrej Jakimovski