An unexpected Catalan catches the attention of the NBA

ManresaCatalan basketball will once again be represented at Basketball Without Borders (BWB). Lucas Sánchez, a 17-year-old, 1.92m point guard, is participating in this annual camp for young international talents, held in Los Angeles to coincide with the NBA All-Star Game.

The Baxi Manresa youth player follows in the footsteps of players like Izan Almansa (2022), Aday Mara (2023), Iker Garamendia (2024), and Guillermo del Pino (2025). Future female stars such as Ariadna Termis and Elena Buenavida, two players trained at Siglo XXI, the high-performance center located in Esplugues de Llobregat, have also participated.

Born on April 3, 2008, Sánchez regularly plays for Baxi Manresa's reserve team in the U22 League. The Sant Cugat native averages 9.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. His two best games were against Joventut (14 points and 9 rebounds) and Barça (16 points).

Sánchez, who was a European runner-up with the Spanish U16 team in the summer of 2024, has already made his Liga Endesa debut. Diego Ocampo gave him the opportunity on January 18th in Vitoria in their loss to Kosner Baskonia (130-85). The point guard played 6:22 minutes, scoring 2 points, dishing out 2 assists, and grabbing 1 rebound. His Eurocup debut came a few days later against Neptunas Klaipeda, where he played 7:28 minutes. "He debuted with the first team because we had a lot of injuries and, therefore, a need, but also because he earned it. If he hadn't trained and studied hard, he would have played with only ten players. He has an opportunity to learn a lot," Ocampo explained.

The list of participants in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) is agreed upon between the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which recently announced the list of 40 of the best high school-age prospects from 29 countries. The event is being held at the UCLA Health Training Center in Los Angeles.

An inexhaustible squad

Of the 135 international players in the NBA, more than 50 participated in BWB. These include players like Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), and Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers). The program is now expanding with the launch of BWB Next Up, two annual camps designed for 160 players. "Basketball Without Borders has been a cornerstone of our global development efforts for 25 years, and this revamped format will build on the program's legacy and enhance its impact on the next generation of international players," explains Brendan McKillop, NBA Associate Vice President and Head of Elite Basketball. "Involving players from around the world will allow us to strengthen the competitive experience and create a clearer pathway for the most talented and highest-performing players to participate in our flagship BWB All-Star Camps," he adds.

"Basketball Without Borders is moving towards a truly global model. We are excited to bring together young international players from all corners of the world to learn, grow, and inspire one another. Bringing together different playing styles and coaching philosophies allows us to create a more powerful learning environment that will further accelerate development and reinforce our shared commitment to the growth of basketball globally," says Kimberley Gaucher, FIBA's Players United leader.