By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The NCAA pipeline continues to pull elite European talent, with Real Madrid’s Gunars Grinvalds committing to play for UCLA.
Bringing a high-level European pedigree to head coach Mick Cronin’s squad, the young upstart stands at just over two meters. Grinvalds projects as a versatile perimeter threat with elite three-point shooting capabilities, offering the Bruins immediate depth on the wing alongside full four-year college eligibility. Taking his talents to the United States, he emerges as a strong candidate to compete for immediate playing time in Los Angeles.
The 18-year-old Latvian wing announced his decision via DraftExpress on Friday.
NEWS: Real Madrid’s Gunars Grinvalds has committed to UCLA, he tells DraftExpress.
The 18-year-old 6’7” Latvian wing made his ACB and EuroLeague debuts, played a key role in his club’s LigaU title run, and popped at the NextGen EuroLeague Finals. pic.twitter.com/gHcI5EIc26
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) June 5, 2026
Hailing from Jurmala, the promising prospect has steadily risen through the ranks of Europe’s most prestigious development programs. He spent his developmental years within the Madrid youth system, making his debut with the club’s reserve team during the 2024-25 season and being introduced to the senior squad during the 2025-26 season.
His stock rose significantly during a dominant run where he fueled the club’s Liga U title victory. In addition, he delivered standout performances at the adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals 2026, averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 steals per game in Athens. Beyond the junior level, the teenager checked in for a 48-second cameo in this season’s installment of the EuroLeague and 66 seconds in Spain’s Liga Endesa, marking his first appearances.
On the international stage, Grinvalds has been a fixture for his home country, representing Latvia at both the FIBA U16 European Championship 2023 and the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2024, averaging 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds across seven games in the latter event.
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