With frontcourt questions looming ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Colorado men’s basketball program have added a key international piece.
Head coach Tad Boyle announced the commitment of Leonardo Van Elswyk, a 7-foot-1 center from Italy, giving the Buffaloes a much-needed boost in size and depth. The 19-year-old brings international experience to Boulder after spending the past season with Olimpia Milano, one of Italy’s top professional programs.
Men’s basketball: Italian center Leonardo Van Elswyk joins CU Buffs https://t.co/9h1SXuYQoO
— Buffzone (@buffzone) June 25, 2025
Van Elswyk averaged 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds last year while shooting 48.3% from the field. He previously represented Italy at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship and is currently participating in tryouts for the Italian U20 national team.
His status for CU’s upcoming four-game exhibition trip to Australia, which begins July 23, will depend on whether he makes that national team roster. If he does, he will join the Buffs later in the summer. If not, he’s expected to report to Boulder in time for the next set of pre-tour practices starting July 7.
Key addition to a thin frontcourt
Van Elswyk becomes the sixth member of CU’s freshman class, joining Jalin Holland, Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola, Ian Inman, Isaiah Johnson, and Josiah Sanders. He is also the third addition since the spring transfer period opened, following UC Riverside guard Barrington Hargress and University of Denver transfer Jon Mani.
The Buffaloes entered the offseason with only five returning players—Bangot Dak, Felix Kossaras, Elijah Malone, Sebastian Rancik, and redshirt freshman Andrew Crawford—after significant roster turnover.
With Dak recovering from injury and not expected to participate in the Australia trip, Van Elswyk’s presence becomes even more valuable as the coaching staff looks to shore up the interior.
“He’s probably a developmental guy,” CU associate head coach Mike Rohn told the Boulder Daily. “He’s coming here with the idea that if he’s ready to play, we’ll play him. He’s a center and he’s very skilled. If he’s not, we can redshirt him. He’s the perfect guy for us because we’re losing Elijah (Malone) and now we have our next center with us every day.”
Roster outlook
Van Elswyk gives CU its 14th scholarship player, leaving one spot still open. It’s likely Boyle and his staff will pursue another frontcourt addition with that final scholarship, especially with Dak’s uncertain timetable.
The addition checks off one of the program’s offseason priorities: improving frontcourt depth. The Buffs have also addressed the point guard spot with Hargress, though long-range shooting remains a concern. Hargress shot 32.3% from three at UC Riverside, and Mani hit 30.6% in his lone season at Denver.
CU will be counting on returning players and freshmen to contribute immediately in that area, particularly Holland and Sanders, who both arrive with strong reputations as scorers.
Long-term upside
While Van Elswyk may not be an immediate contributor, the coaching staff believes in his long-term potential. His size, mobility, and skill level give CU a player to develop internally rather than relying solely on the portal.
The dual-citizen of Italy and Canada visited Boulder earlier this month before finalizing his commitment.
With the Australia tour approaching, Boyle and his staff are continuing to evaluate final roster moves, but Van Elswyk’s addition represents a key step in solidifying the Buffaloes interior presence.
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