One year in Australia at the NBA Academy, one in Evansville, and now the leap to Xavier, with the hope of closing the circle and making it to the real NBA. Gabriel Pozzato has clear ideas and a strong desire to work: he’s already in Cincinnati training with his new team, and he’ll think about vacations another summer.
He doesn’t have a set position, nor does he want one—the 2005-born player from Casale Monferrato who, among young Italians, is certainly the one with the most American style of play. Here is his account of an unusual journey that took him from Piedmont to Ohio, amidst rules that no one follows in a transfer portal now out of control.
Your American journey actually started in Australia, from a phone call while you were in class.
My life changed there, when I went to Australia. I was in class at school in Italy, in Novara, attendinga lesson, and they told me to go up to the office. My father told me we had to join a meeting. We got on a call with what is now my agent, who said, “In a week, we’re going to Australia.” I didn’t know the NBA Academy, but I told my mother: this is what I want to do. I thought I would do my last year of high school in America, but instead I went to Canberra, and it was a year and a half ofsomething different—basketball, basketball, only basketball until the evening. Wake up in themorning and basketball, then online classes, then basketball after lunch, then recovery, with weightsessions before training, not after. It was a tough year but very, very useful, an experience I would absolutely do again. It made me improve and grow as a basketball player and as a person.
After the Academy, did you ever think about returning to Italy?
I could see myself playing in Italy, but my style of play has always been American. I attack the basket and dunk, dribble, do step backs and threes. Some coaches didn’t appreciate it in Italy, but others were fine with it, and anyway America has always been a goal. I watched Kobe Bryant and thought: I want to play there, I want to go to America and try my chances and see how it goes.
How did you end up at Evansville, a private university in Indiana?
After the Academy, I had quite a few offers, from Campbell to Radford to Pepperdine, basically all mid-majors. Even UNLV was very interested, but I ended up at Evansville because they guaranteed me playing time on the court. I needed that to show my talent, to show what I could do.
And you got a lot of minutes with the Purple Aces, 35 minutes per game with 15 points average and a nomination to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team.
I felt very good in Indiana, everyone told me “you’re going to a state where basketball is pure,” so I rolled up my sleeves and played my cards. Once I started the season, I decided not to think about the transfer portal, I focused on doing my job, on the present. I could have stayed there, but after the milestones I reached, many doors opened for me.
And after the incoming recruiting process in college, you experienced the transfer portal. What are the differences between the two processes?
Similar but different approaches: an international player is not in the United States, so universities can’t see you in person and know you less. When I was at the NBA Academy, there was interest and pressure, but nothing compared to the transfer portal. My agency told me they would assign three people just to me because it would be unmanageable. And indeed, it was. Even after my commitment to Xavier, teams kept calling me directly, breaking the rules. It’s becoming something unthinkable; we’ve reached the point where there’s even a transfer portal for coaches, and it’s a problem especially for mid-major programs that see players leave even after a season that’s not necessarily good, but just decent. Some do it for money, some for other reasons, and obviously NIL plays a very important role. I received many offers, some we had to outright exclude, we didn’t even respond. It was hard work for my agents because every day 20-25 calls or more would come in.
So you’re telling us there’s a whirlwind of calls where everyone calls everyone?
Exactly, it’s a mess, impressive. As soon as the transfer portal opens, the first target for teams are the players already in the portal, who come before international players. American coaches prefer to pick a player in the portal because they risk less, they know him better since they watch many things like how you behave, how you move, and obviously it’s easier with those who play in America.
Tell us some names of colleges interested in you.
I don’t remember them all now, but besides Xavier, I visited Santa Clara, I was in contact with John Calipari at Kentucky, BYU was very interested…
You could have played with AJ Dybantsa.
Yeah, that’s the point: going to play with AJ Dybantsa or going to watch AJ Dybantsa play. That’s kind of the trick: they do everything to get you, a coach calls you and says you’ll play 40 minutes, this and that, but you have to be a bit realistic. Maybe it was true too, I won’t name names, but I was told I’d be one of the top 3 starters at BYU. I would have taken Egor Demin’s spot and it would have been me, AJ, and the center. But let’s say that even with the help of agencies like mine, you realize the ways, the frequency with which they contact you, how interested they really are. And anyway, it’s not over: as soon as I landed to visit Santa Clara, Virginia called me, then while I was touring the campus, Calipari’s assistant coach called me…
It’s enough to drive you crazy, so basically you’re considering one place and have five others in mind. How did Xavier end up winning in the end?
The final choice was between Santa Clara and Xavier because I wanted to go to a school where I would have guaranteed playing time. To choose a college, you have to visit it and understand how they talk to you. The head coach at Santa Clara was straightforward, super kind—I loved him—and I was very undecided: I was about to go to Santa Clara, and then within a week I changed my mind. At Xavier, there was a completely new coaching staff, but from California they flew me to Cincinnati on the second day they were here. They were very much in contact with my agent, showed a lot of interest, and that’s what won in the end.
Gabriel Pozzato a Xavier
And in all this, there’s also the money: how do you choose a college when ten minutes later you might get a higher offer, and then another one after that?
Money certainly plays a very important role, but honestly, I don’t play for money. It’s important, but I didn’t leave home at 17 to go to college and make money. I left home to get to the NBA and stay there. For many players, it’s important—I’ve met some who came from nothing, who were in the NAIA, then Division II, then Division I, and as soon as they get an offer, say, of 300-400 thousand dollars, they say, “I’m going there to help my family.” Those are things I understand.
Is there any special NIL deal for you?
Right now, there’s nothing special yet, but NIL is out of control. After my commitment to Xavier, and everyone knew I had signed with Xavier, one school called my former coaching staff. I happened to meet my coach from Evansville and he said, “Oh, did you hear about that school that called us about you?” I said, “No coach, I’m going to Xavier.” “And you know they wanted to give you a million.” I don’t play for money, like I said, I play to reach my final goal, which is the NBA, but it’s out of control, it’s impressive.
Let’s go back to Xavier, where, after the Sean Miller era, the new coach is a big name like Richard Pitino.
He played a very important role in my choice; he gave me the feeling of the kind of coach I need right now. He doesn’t care, but at the same time he cares a lot. Let me explain: he doesn’t care if you miss a shot, but he gets mad if you miss a shot and then walk back on defense. But if you miss a shot, get back on defense, and block your opponent, he comes over, pats you on the back, and encourages you. Those are things that matter to me—I need a coach who pushes me like that.
Pitino is always synonymous with intensity; how do you see yourself fitting into this new Xavier?
When he showed me videos of the playing style, I thought, “I see myself playing that style,” taking the ball and going coast to coast. The American style is very comfortable and fits mine well. Certainly, the role of the coach was very important. I told him straight: “I’m coming here to play, to work my ass off, train every day, do extra work, and help you win.” And he told me, “Based on what I saw in your season at Evansville, you’re in my starting five. But if in four months you suck, I won’t start you.” That’s what I was saying before, that’s what convinced me to come to Xavier—I need this, I need the challenge.
La grinta di Richard Pitino
It’s hard to give a judgment now on a team that is completely new, but certainly you have arrived in a top conference like the Big East.
The Big East played a very important role; it’s a very important stage. When I spoke with Coach Pitino, it was very interesting. Our playing system will be very focused on run and gun, it’s very fast, with few set plays, so I think we will do very well. Of course, we are a completely new team, and that won’t help, but I’m here on campus three weeks after the end of school in Evansville, and already five of my teammates are here with me. The rest will arrive next week, and we’ll start practicing together right away. We are a very young, very athletic, and very technically strong team
An athlete:this is the most common definition for you. Does it describe you well, or is there more?
There is more, although there is a lot to improve, and I’m not happy with the player I am now. They have called me an athlete since I played in Borgomanero and then at the Academy, also because I post dunks and things like that on social media, but behind that there’s a lot of hard work. I won’t feel like a complete player until I can say I’m a 6’7” point guard who can post up or handle the ball. When I manage to be a complete player who comfortably brings the ball up, a true point guard with my height and athleticism, then yes, I’ll be able to say I’m a complete player and happy with myself. Basketball is changing a lot now and becoming positionless: I’m two meters tall, with a 2.15-meter wingspan, so I have to be able to defend everyone, from point guard to center. Many coaches have told me I have a gift, which is my body and athleticism, and that I have to use it, but not only on offense.
L’atletismo di Gabriel Pozzato
What are your goals?
This year in the Big East, to dominate. And next year, the NBA. I will definitely try to test the waters with NBA scouts, then we’ll see. I don’t feel like a complete player yet; when I do, I’ll say yes, it’s time to go to the NBA. In my mind, I know I can get there, I know I will, but it all depends on how I work. The physical aspect is also very important—we’re no longer in the Missouri Valley, we’re in the Big East, where guards have arms like this, centers will send you halfway down the court with a shoulder bump, so I’m already in the gym every day and eating like crazy. The goal is to go to the NBA—I play basketball to get to the NBA and stay there. The EuroLeague is still an option, but I want to focus on the present and what I have to do now. The EuroLeague will be a good option, but right now I want to play in the NBA.
You have already played with the Italia National teams; do they keep an eye on you or do they lose track of you when you go to America?
I’ve been in contact with the national team staff, I talked with Pozzecco especially when I was in Australia. Of course, the greatest interest is for those who are in Italy or Europe, but if a player is wanted and needed, they have to go get him. Sure, being in the US doesn’t help much, but at the same time if someone wants a player, they’ll go get him even if he’s in China.
Will the NCAA become increasingly Italian?
Yes, also based on how I experienced the youth system in Italy, I know many guys want to go to the United States. I’m pretty sure there will be more and more.