NBA Comparison:  Nando Da Colo / Joe Ingels

Strengths: De Larrea is a highly skilled Spanish point guard who embodies the classic “midfielder” feel for the game often associated with elite Spanish floor generals, bringing vision, creativity, timing, and advanced feel to the position … Plays with exceptional poise and instincts, operating with the feel of a seasoned veteran despite being just 20 years old … Maestro-type pick-and-roll orchestrator who consistently manipulates defenders with patience, timing, and subtle changes of pace … Outstanding passer with a natural ability to set teammates up in rhythm, showing excellent anticipation and touch while consistently making the right read … Has an advanced understanding of spacing and angles, allowing him to control tempo and keep an offense organized … Operates with an “old man’s game,” relying on craft, deception, footwork, and pacing rather than overwhelming athleticism to create advantages … Very comfortable dictating pace and rarely appears sped up, showing a calming presence with the ball in his hands … Possesses a polished all-around offensive feel and demonstrates strong basketball IQ in both transition and half-court settings … High-level secondary playmaker who can comfortably share ball handling duties or initiate offense himself, fitting well alongside other creators … Outside shooting has become one of his strengths, as he connected on an impressive 40.7% from three-point range in Liga ACB competition during the 2025-26 season while shooting on respectable volume (37-for-91) … Floor spacer who cannot be left open and consistently punishes defenders who duck under screens or help too aggressively … Free throw shooting further supports his long-term shooting projection, converting 83.3% from the line in 2025-26 and 77.6% across four professional seasons, numbers that align with high-level shooters … Displays confidence shooting from distance and has the touch to comfortably extend his range beyond the NBA three-point line … Measured an impressive 6’6” barefoot, 204 pounds, with a 6’9” wingspan and 8’4.24” standing reach in pre-draft measurements, giving him outstanding positional size for a lead guard and allowing him to comfortably see over defenses while making advanced passing reads … Productive despite modest playing time in one of Europe’s best professional leagues, averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in only 18 minutes per game in Liga ACB play during the 2025-26 season … Also gained valuable high-level experience in EuroLeague competition, averaging 4.2 points and 2.2 assists in limited minutes … Precocious talent with years of professional experience despite his youth … Gritty competitor who plays with toughness and confidence … Brings the flair and creativity often associated with Spanish guards, showing an instinctive ability to improvise and make difficult reads look easy … Decorated young prospect already accustomed to winning, earning Liga Endesa Best Young Player honors in consecutive seasons, winning MVP of the 2025 Spanish Super Cup, and helping Spain capture gold at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Weaknesses: Questions remain regarding how seamlessly De Larrea’s game will translate to the NBA due to concerns surrounding athletic upside and physical tools … Can struggle at times against length and imposing athletes who are able to pressure him physically and disrupt his comfort level … Though he has done a solid job adding strength and physicality over the past two years and now weighs roughly 205 pounds, continuing to get stronger will still be important to better absorb contact, handle physical defenders, and withstand the demands of an NBA season … Not the most physical guard and can occasionally be bumped off spots by stronger defenders … Foot speed stands out as one of the more significant concerns in projecting him to the NBA, as he lacks ideal burst and lateral quickness by NBA standards … Not an especially explosive athlete and lacks a dynamic first step, limiting his ability to consistently create separation, turn the corner, and collapse defenses off the dribble … Relies heavily on craft, timing, and pacing rather than speed, which may become more difficult against elite NBA athletes capable of shrinking space quickly and taking away passing windows … Could face challenges defensively staying in front of quicker, more explosive guards, making perimeter containment an area of concern early in his career … Finishing around the basket may prove more difficult against NBA length and athleticism due to limited burst, though added strength has helped mitigate some earlier concerns … Some questions exist regarding how effectively his game scales in a different role at the NBA level, particularly if he is no longer the primary offensive organizer and instead asked to function more as a complementary playmaker … While his feel, size, and shooting provide a strong foundation and relatively high floor, evaluators may question whether he possesses enough dynamic physical tools to become more than a quality rotational guard.

Outlook: De Larrea has the classic flair of a Spanish point guard, bringing creativity, toughness, vision, and feel to the position … A gritty competitor with a mature approach and advanced instincts, he stands out as one of the more intriguing international guard prospects in the 2026 class due to his combination of shooting, passing, and basketball IQ … His ability to control tempo, make teammates better, and space the floor should give him a strong opportunity to translate to modern NBA basketball, particularly in systems emphasizing ball movement and decision-making … The biggest question revolves around how effectively his game scales against NBA athleticism and whether his strengths remain as impactful in a complementary role rather than as a primary initiator … Still, his production, winning pedigree, and polished offensive skill set give him a strong foundation as a long-term prospect … Eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft, De Larrea has a legitimate chance to hear his name called in the first round with continued physical development and progression.

Notes: Measured 6’6″ barefoot, 204 lbs, 6’9 wingspan, and 8’4.24″ standing reach in pre-draft measurements … From Valladolid, Spain … Born December 4, 2005 (20 years old) … Joined Valencia’s senior team on July 5, 2024 … Reported 6’6 wingspan … Eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft … 2025-26 Liga ACB: 28 GP, 18.0 MPG, 44.3% FG, 40.7% 3PT, 83.3% FT, 9.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.6 APG … 2025-26 EuroLeague: 4.2 PPG, 2.2 APG, 1.4 RPG in 11.0 MPG … Four professional seasons with Valencia: 95 GP, 44.9% FG, 41.0% 3PT, 77.6% FT … Named Liga Endesa Best Young Player in back-to-back seasons … Won MVP of the 2025 Spanish Super Cup … Gold medalist with Spain at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Aran Smith 6/10/26

Strengths: Smooth, crafty guard with advanced feel and high-level instincts for a player his age … A natural pick-and-roll operator, he plays with composure and patience, manipulating defenders with pace changes and deceptive angles … He operates like “a young maestro,” controlling tempo and dictating the flow of the offense … Sees the floor like a soccer midfielder, reading coverages and delivering passes with timing and precision … Sets the table with outstanding vision, often hitting cutters and roll men before the defense can react … Even when his assist numbers aren’t high, the quality of his reads and decisions consistently elevates his team’s offense … At 6’6, he offers real intrigue as a tall point guard, capable of seeing over defenders and making advanced reads in the halfcourt … A 6’9 wingspan gives him added length on both ends, helping him as a passer over the top, a rebounder, and a more effective finisher around the rim despite modest burst … His shooting form is solid and clean, showing touch off the catch and from midrange … De Larrea brings a poised, intelligent presence, rarely sped up and always in control … A mature, high-IQ lead guard who plays with rhythm and purpose.

Weaknesses: The swing skill for De Larrea’s NBA outlook is overcoming lack of ideal speed … He lacks an explosive first step and doesn’t possess the burst to easily separate from athletic defenders off the bounce … He’s reliant on ball screens to create open looks, and struggles to break defenders down in isolation … His movement can be slightly stiff, particularly in the lower body, limiting his ability to accelerate or change direction … Lateral speed is a concern as well, especially when defending quicker guards on the perimeter … Finishing through contact remains a concern, as he lacks vertical pop, struggles to convert at the rim when contested, and lacks much physical strength … While his shooting form is compact, his release is a bit deliberate, which can make it easier to contest … Defensively, he’s more effective as a help and rotation defender than on the ball … His physical tools limit his margin for error, and he’ll need to compensate with skill development and savvy … There’s still some question about whether he can consistently create advantages at the NBA level without elite speed or separation ability …

Outlook: One of the most poised and polished young guards in Europe, with a mature floor game and strong instincts that stand out in every setting … His ability to operate pick-and-rolls, space the floor, and make intelligent reads gives him long-term value, especially at his size … Whether he sticks in the NBA will depend on how much he can improve his speed and athletic fluidity … If he can quicken his release, tighten his handle, and become more dynamic attacking closeouts, he has real upside as a tall, low-usage connector and secondary playmaker … He’s an appealing draft-and-stash or second-round prospect for teams valuing basketball IQ, size, and skill … While not flashy, De Larrea’s composure, length, and vision give him a legitimate chance to carve out a niche role in a structured NBA offense.

Notes: Born in Valladolid, Spain, December 4, 2005 … Plays for Valencia Basket in Spain’s ACB and EuroCup … Participated for Spain in multiple FIBA youth competitions …

Aran Smith 7/30/25