LUKE MEINHOLZ

From NCAA D3 to Spain: Luke Meinholz Signs for 2026-27

Spain is the next stop for Luke Meinholz, who signed with a club in the Valencia region for the 2026-27 season following EuroProBasket’s European Summer League in June 2026. The Ripon College guard made the jump from NCAA D3 to Spain the hard way, on the defensive end.

From Oconomowoc to the Ripon College Record Book

Meinholz is a 6’4″ shooting guard and forward from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who played four seasons at Ripon College in NCAA D3. His role grew every year, starting as a freshman on the 2021-22 team that won the Midwest Conference title.

His senior season in 2024-25 gave him the most leverage for opportunities abroad. He started all 25 games, averaged 15.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32.8 minutes, shot 80% from the line and earned First Team All-Midwest Conference honors. He also passed 1,000 career points.

What a coach notices first is the defense. Meinholz finished tied for seventh in all of NCAA D3 with 79 steals, and he left Ripon holding the school records for career steals, steals per game in a season, and steals in a single game.

He led the team in points, steals and minutes, and he can catch fire. He dropped 27 points on Lake Forest with a perfect 4-of-4 from three, and 25 on Illinois College. He also went looking for exposure early, testing at the WeAreD3 Combine and playing the Coast2Coast Showcase.

What Did Luke Meinholz Show in Valencia?

Meinholz first trained with EuroProBasket in Valencia in November 2025 and was one of the standouts of that group, putting together strong performances against local Spanish teams. He came back in June 2026 for the European Summer League.

His jump shot wasn’t falling that summer, so he made the game about everything else. Across four games he produced 4.6 steals, 10.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per 36 minutes, and he finished 68% of his two-point attempts.

That is a strong, physical, athletic wing who guards multiple positions, crashes the glass and turns deflections into layups. He plays through contact, moves the ball, and does the work that never shows up in the scoring column.

How Did an NCAA D3 Player Sign in Spain?

Luke Meinholz, a 6’4″ guard from Ripon College in NCAA D3, signed with a club in the Valencia region of Spain for the 2026-27 season. He earned the opportunity following EuroProBasket’s European Summer League in June 2026, where his defense, rebounding and energy showed up game after game.

Spain is one of the most competitive basketball countries in Europe, and roster spots for Americans are hard to earn. Production there is how players move up, and Meinholz now has a full season to show what he showed all summer.

Can NCAA D3 Players Play Basketball in Spain?

Yes. Meinholz is proof that an NCAA D3 résumé can earn a roster spot in Spain when the production, the film and the exposure line up.

Every European Summer League game is professionally recorded and shared with our scouting network, and players compete in front of scouts and coaches from 20+ countries. EuroProBasket brings over a decade of experience: 400+ players signed and committed in 25+ different countries, since 2015.

Browse recent signings on our players signed page. The opportunity is something you earn. If you are where Meinholz was a year ago, start with the European Summer League program.