4,794 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, a four-year-old kid named Aleksandar Gavalyugov stepped on the basketball court for a game against a group of 10-year-olds.
14 years later, that same kid, a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, is now a six-foot-two freshman point guard for Villanova.
Nicknamed “Sash” by his teammates and coaches, the 18-year-old’s journey to the Main Line took him around the world.
At 17, Gavalyugov left Sofia to attend the NBA Global Academy in Australia.
“It was harder than I thought it was going to be,” Gavalyugov said. “I was far away from home in a whole different continent and culture. Everything was just so different. I was excited the first couple of weeks, but then I got homesick.”
An injury shortly after his arrival sidelined Gavalyugov, who was already missing his Bulgarian roots.
In Gavalyugov’s family, basketball is a rite of passage. While the whole family has played a part in Gavalyugov’s basketball journey, his father Ivan’s impact has been without equal.
“[My father] is always on the phone with me, following my development and he’s always telling me what to do in the gym to get better,” Gavalyugov said. “He’s like my mentor, coach and idol.”
From the age of four to now, Gavalyugov’s experiences have sharpened his skills as a point guard and given him a fearless mentality.
“I was a late bloomer,” Gavalyugov said. “I was always shorter and skinnier than others, especially when we were hitting our growing years. I wasn’t as strong as them and I couldn’t jump like them. I had to learn how to be more skillful than them and I had to dribble better and shoot better and play smarter. ”
On the international stage, Gavalyugov has excelled. In 2023, as a member of the Bulgarian Youth National Team, Gavalyugov averaged 21.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists.
This past summer, Gavalyugov attended the 2024 Adidas EuroCamp in Italy, which showcases top talent from Europe. In Italy, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Following his strong performances at the camp, Gavalyugov’s stock in the United States began rising and more college coaches such as head coach Kyle Neptune started reaching out.
“It was amazing,” Gavalyugov said. “Some of the players were NBA prospects, so playing against them helped me get recruited by bigger schools. Last season I was injured, so I missed a lot of games, so this was the stage to prove that I could play.”
Villanova and Neptune’s rich history with point guards make Gavalyugov an exciting addition to the program.
“Aleksandar is a crafty, competitive lead guard with high level dribble, pass and shooting tools,” Neptune said to Villanova Athletics. “At a young age, he has already excelled on the international stage and impacted winning. Our staff is looking forward to working with Aleksandar as he transitions to college basketball.”
Due to a new style of basketball, it took six games but on Nov 19th, in the blowout win against Penn, Gavalyugov made his Wildcats debut. It was a big moment for Gavalugov as his adjustment to the American game had finally paid off.
In Bulgaria and Australia, Gavalyugov was often one of the better players on his teams. At Villanova, he is still waiting for his opportunity, but has leaned on older players and his coaches for help.
In the locker room and on campus the difference in music taste has created a strong bond between Gavalyugov and his teammates. While his teammates have introduced him to American rap, Gavalyugov has introduced the locker room to music from back home.
“Going to the weightroom they have introduced me to some artists I have never heard before,” Gavalyugov said. “In the locker room and on the road it’s always American music but I’ve also introduced them to Bulgarian music. I think they kind of got a feel for it. Every student who came to Hoops Mania probably heard the most famous song from Bulgaria, so hopefully people got a feeling for what it is.”
Gavalyugov recently found a taste of home close to campus and has also been cherishing his time in the United States as a student-athlete.
“There’s a Bulgarian store twenty minutes from campus,” Gavalyugov said. “I can get some stuff from there, which is nice. The life here is more chill. I’ve only been to Philadelphia one or two times so I haven’t seen much of it, but I like it here and like living here.”
Gavalyugov’s journey has taken him to three different continents and three different countries. His journey is one that many other college players will never experience or need to take, but it is a journey that is ultimately paying off as a Division I player and member of the Wildcats roster.
“[Fans] can expect that I will be a guy who brings a lot of energy on the court and has a positive attitude,” Gavalyugov said. “When I play, they can expect a guy who will give it all he has for the team and all he has for the win.”
