Daniel Hitchens

At just 21 years old, Fan Monreal’s basketball career has taken him on many journeys through multiple different countries and cultures. Originally from Spain, Monreal is now in his third year at college and over the last 4 months has been adjusting to his new life in canada. Before coming to Thompson Rivers University, Monreal spent his time in the United States, where he spent his first year in Missouri and his second in Kansas. Although moving throughout countries due to basketball has become somewhat normal for him, each transition brings new challenges and tribulations he has had to overcome.

Monreal’s Recruitment Journey

Monreal’s recruitment Journey to canada started with a spanish agent who specializes in finding players opportunities in canada. Because of Monreal’s talents, at the end of last season when he was still playing in Kansas, the agent reached out and explained how the canadian university system works and why it could be a good fit for him both athletically and academically. After some thought, Monreal decided to sign with the agent; quickly after came conversations with universities from around Canada. Monreal had many calls with coaches, learning about their programs, teams, expectations, and opportunities.

In the end, the decision came down to finding the overall best fit. After discussions with his family, Monreal decided to sign with Thompson Rivers University because it matched what he was looking for both on and off the court. However, before officially signing with TRU he met multiple times with the head coach of the men’s basketball team and his agent to go over details to ensure they had what he needed to achieve his goals. for Monreal the process wasnt just about choosing a team; it was about choosing the best environment for his future.

Recruitment: USA vs Canada

Monreal noticed a big difference between the recruitment processes in the U.S. and Canada. U.S. recruitment can feel more structured and competitive, with a strong culture around exposure and scouting services. With so many programs and athletes, standing out can be difficult unless players are proactive in promoting themselves.

In Canada, it feels more relationship-based and involves more direct communication with the coaching staff; it made the process feel more straightforward and less stressful. Fran also pointed out that social media like X (Twitter) played a bigger role in the recruitment process in the U.S., with players and coaches using it mostly for communicating and sharing highlights. Overall, while both systems offer great opportunities, the path to getting noticed can feel very different depending on the country.

Joining the Wolfpack

Monreal meantioned how joining the WolfPack didn’t just mean being at a new school and playing with a new team; it meant adapting to a new culture, school, weather, and changes on the court.

However, he says, with the pillars of support he had behind From administrative staff helping with immigration and paperwork to coaches and teammates offering guidance and encouragement, the WolfPack community helped him settle in. Although it’s only been 4 months, the people around him have become more like family than anything else. His teammates helped make the move to canada feel possible and made him feel welcome from the first time he set his foot on the basketball court.