It doesn’t matter which corner of the world they are from, the output of the overseas players on the Oregon State University men’s basketball team is undeniable to their winning formula.  

“We know how impactful (the) scouting process can be, so it’s always important to go watch tape and see what they have to offer, talent-wise, overseas,” head coach Wayne Tinkle said. 

The rise in popularity of fishing for talent overseas for teams in the States has gained traction with stars at the pro level finding success, such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. 

As such, it has trickled down to the collegiate stage. 

OSU has always prided itself on its overseas program, whether it be studying abroad or its connections with transfer student programs. This is no different in the sports realm as eight players are from outside the United States. 

Parsa Fallah, anchor to the team and starting forward, has become a valuable asset for the Beavers. Hailing from Aman, Iran, Fallah averages 11.7 points per game on a shooting average of over 60%. 

“I don’t really look at it as how many shots I’ve made, I look at it as how many shots I missed,” Fallah said following their win against Idaho in their post-game press conference. 

“Fallah has really stepped up as one of the more experienced players on the team, and I think that the team can lean on him for defensive looks, and he helps open up matchups,” Tinkle said. “He’s a leader and continues to be.” 

“As the coach says, we lost a lot of shots, I feel I should take some responsibility. I just need to play tougher and just finish at the rim,” Fallah said. Fallah’s defensive presence in their wins has become irreplaceable and a strong asset for the Beavers’ play design.   

The young sophomore Liutauras Lelevicius, from Kaunas, Lithuania, over the last few games has gotten more involved with the starting lineups. 

Now, having several starts under his belt in the last month, he is averaging nearly a full ten points a game with 8.2 points, including a few double-digit games over this last month of January basketball. 

“We felt how hard it is to lose by 21 points, and we have had some tough losses to Oregon and North Texas, that loss is something we don’t want to feel anymore, and we will approach every game the same, just like we do in practice,” Lelevicius said after their win against San Diego at their post-game presser. 

Lelevicius’s mentality has been on full display in his play time, leaving everything on the court for the Beavers, win or lose, and it’s something they can rely on. 

“Liu is a special talent. He has the speed to complement his size well, so we use him accordingly to our plan depending on what’s given,” Tinkle said. 

Most notably, OSU has found themselves a young star out of Augsburg, Germany, in Micheal Rataj. 

The junior talent has become the Beavers’ 2024-25 points, rebounds, steals and blocks leader per game for this season. Rataj has finished 13 of the 25 games played so far in points, and he has set and broken the season high for points scored in a game four times.

“I feel like, especially me, we have to show up from the beginning and set the tone,” Rataj said at the post-game press conference after the loss to Saint Mary’s. “I need to look at my mistakes and watch films. But I’m gonna keep going. I’m gonna look at the film, but I’m gonna admit my mistake. But I’m a young player and just keep going.”

“And with guys like Rataj, you look to them to help with our offense to breathe and find proper matchups,” Tinkle said.

The Beavers have many other young players working their way up the roster who have come overseas and will continue to get involved more as the season comes to an end. 

Out of the 16 active players on the roster, exactly half have come from overseas, with eight international players, and we can expect more to transfer into OSU’s program once the offseason begins, concluding March tournaments.