Aday Mara NCAA-bound? Real Madrid on alert

Aday Mara’s future points to the United States. According to Relevo and confirmed by AS, the Casademont Zaragoza center has received several offers from some of the most prestigious universities in North America to continue a career that points directly to the NBA. UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) is believed to be at the front of the queue to take the Spanish teenager, a unique player who already experienced a little adventure on the other side of the Atlantic back in February when he took part in the Basketball Without Borders project as part of the NBA All Star Weekend.

NBA associate vice-president Chris Ebersole, who coordinated the campus said of Mara: “I think he has a great opportunity to make it to the NBA. Many teams already follow him and have a good impression of him (...). He is on the path to be able to play in the United States and have a great impact with his future team”.

Those sentiments were shared by Javier Zamora, who coached Mara during the U-17 World Cup. He told AS: “He is a player with very special characteristics. Regardless of the fact that he has a very imposing physique and that is rarely seen, I would highlight his ability to pass and his reading of the game. And of course, also his coordination, his touch, which can open the field...”

However, Mara’s options do not end there, although his primary intention is university basketball. Real Madrid have shown interest in him. Mara’s potential arrival in the Spanish capital would depend to a large extent on Madrid outlining a long-term deal with the player. In other words, that they would not carry out any type of loan operation once they acquired the player’s rights in the Liga Endesa - as we saw recently in the case of Carlos Alocen.

Mara, who was born in 2005, has taken on a more importance role withing in Porfi Fisac’s system and enjoys a greater influence at Casademont Zaragoza. He enjoyed a spectacular Under-17 World Cup with Spain, winning the silver medal after losing the final to the United States and being one of the best young players at the tournament. Overall, he averaged 12.6 points, 5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

In the 20 games he has played this season with Zaragoza, he has averaged: 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and a PIR of 7.5 in more than 11 game minutes. Mara has attracted international attention ahead of the Draft gala to be held in 2024. He looks sets to be one of the most promising names in European basketball along with Zaccharie Risacher, who has just turned 18, and is a member of ASVEL. The son of the former Unicaja player, Stéphane Risacher, has impressed in the Euroleague.