As Duke prepares for the Sweet 16 against Arizona, the East Regional showcases a remarkable trend of international talent among its top teams, including Duke, Alabama, Arizona, and BYU.

All four teams in this regional have starting centers born outside the United States, with players hailing from South Sudan, Nigeria, Lithuania, and Mali, underscoring the growing influence of international players in college basketball.

These teams are also ranked among the top 13 nationally in offensive efficiency, suggesting that the influx of international talent is positively impacting their performance.

International players often bring different basketball philosophies, emphasizing passing and strategic play, which contrasts with the more physical style traditionally seen in American basketball.

Egor Demin, a highly regarded freshman from Russia, is anticipated to be a top NBA Draft pick, further showcasing the potential of international recruits in college basketball.

Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan, has had an extraordinary year, playing in the Basketball Africa League and representing his country at the Olympics before joining Duke University.

Arizona's head coach, Tommy Lloyd, has a proven track record of successfully recruiting international players, having brought in several foreign talents who have excelled in the Pac-12 Conference.

In his first year as head coach, BYU's Kevin Young has effectively integrated a significant number of international players, leading to the program's best season since 2011.

The trend of recruiting international players is expected to continue as schools adapt to new NIL opportunities and revenue-sharing measures, making college basketball more appealing to global talent.

The East Regional also features players from various countries, including Australia, Russia, Serbia, Estonia, and Spain, reflecting a diverse representation in the tournament.