Jamaican-born Samardo Samuels is one of a few players born outside the U.S. with a good chance of making the Final Four.

More and more, coaches are searching all around this big blue marble to find talent to bring back to the homeland. We’ve yet to see the international recruiting wars get as heated as they are in the United States, but more and more, players are proving themselves. The NBA caught onto this 15 years ago, and college basketball is just now coming around on the trend to the point where it’s making a large impact on the game.

Here are some of the internationally born players who have a good chance at seeing The Dance — and helping their teams make a lot of noise when they get there.

AUSTRALIA — Patty Mills (St. Mary’s). If you haven’t heard of Mills, then I’m surprised you’re even on this site. Mills is, in my opinion, one of the five best future pros in the college game right now, but he’s been out with that freak wrist injury for a month now. St. Mary’s likely can’t make The Dance without he and the team winning the WCC. If it does get there, St. Mary’s has the chance to make the Sweet 16.

Luke Nevill (Utah). Nevill is the Utes leading scorer and grabbing more than eight per game off the rim. He also has 71 blocks, which is nowhere near Hasheem Thabeet (yeah, he’s listed below), but it’s a help. Without Nevill, Utah is not the upset threat it is now.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA — Goran Suton (Michigan State). Suton has missed six games, but he’s got the brutal size to match up with nearly every big man out there. How successful can he be? That depends on the game. What is for certain: MSU’s perimeter is almost non-existant when he’s not playing.

Nemanja Calasan (Purdue). A role player for sure, but Robbie Hummel can’t do everything. Seven points and three boards is what he brings. Classic “glue guy.”

CAMEROON — Alfred Aboya (UCLA). I am always a fan of athletes named Alfred; I can’t explain it. Aboya ditched those sweet yellow frames from last season, and now he’s the second most important player (to Collison) on this year’s team. One of the more unique guys out there, you also rarely see Aboya lose his cool. You get the sense he really has become a player that Ben Howland charishes.

ITALY — Daniel Hackett (USC). You wouldn’t think it, right? Hackett wasn’t like a Thabeet or Suton; he’s been in the states for awhile now, but he still qualifies. His toughness and willingness to sacrifice his body remind me of a Scottie Reynolds mold.

JAMAICA — Samardo Samuels (Louisville). Ire, mon! Samuels was considered one of the five best freshman coming into this season. It hasn’t worked out that well so far, but he’s still plenty valuable. Some argue he helps comprise the best starting five in the country. (I say Edgar Sosa very much prevents that from being a fact.) Samuels, Earl Clark and Terrence Williams all average slightly above 12 points, and that’s why Louisville’s lethal. This kid has not even reached half his potential. Hope to see him stay.

LATVIA — Rihards Kuksiks (Arizona State). Latvian Orthodox! Kuksiks is a terrific shooter and probably better than the third offensive option he currently is. I’m just happy Latvia has enterd this equation, really.

NIGERIA — Andrew Lovedale (Davidson). I love it. Hey Andrew, where are you from? Nigeria, of course! Davidson’s Tournament hopes are now down to winning the SoCon tournament, but Lovedale showed last year that he’s capable of being the Big Man on the Small Team.

PUERTO RICO — Walter Hodge (Florida). Takes a back seat to Nick Calathes, but Hodge is a decent drive-to-the-hoop player. Seems like the guy who Donovan would want to take the big shot if Calathes was smothered.

Denis Clemente (Kansas State). He’s quickly getting more and more attention. He transferred from Miami, and it appears to be the right move. He’s now The Guy in Manhattan. Averaging a team-high 14.8/game, Clemente also has an It factor. Not sure if he’s good enough to win a game on his own in the first round, but he’s the first name on every opponent’s scouting report.

TANZANIA — Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut). Thabeet will be gone to the NBA next year, and everyone knows that if UConn stands a chance to win it all, Thabeet can’t afford to be schooled the way he was by DeJuan Blair Monday night. His offensive game still has plenty of room (like, the size of Tanzania) for improvement, but you could make the argument he’s damn close to being as imposing defensively now as Emeka Okafor was in 2004. No other player on this list puts as much fear in an opponent as Thabeet does.

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