Troy basketball adds European guard to 2026-27 roster

The Troy men's basketball program is bolstering its 2026-27 roster with an international addition. As announced by the school on Wednesday, French guard Romain Valakou has officially joined the Trojans.

International Talent Arrives

Valakou, a 6-foot-4 talent hailing from Bordeaux, France, brings impressive production to the court. During his most recent campaign with BCM Gravelines Dunkerque U21 in the Espoirs ELITE League, he averaged 20.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest. He arrives at Troy classified as a freshman with all four years of eligibility remaining.

Coach Howard Weighs In

"Romain is a very talented prospect that has always been able to score the basketball at a high level," Troy head coach Adam Howard said. "He has positional size as a combo guard and his versatility as a scorer and a playmaker will allow him to have an immediate impact on our program. We’re excited to welcome Romain to our Troy basketball program.”

Roster Outlook

Valakou joins a reloading roster that includes freshman signee Tucker Wadsworth from Enterprise High School and Coastal Carolina transfer Robert Davis. The team will see the return of Evan Griffin, Kerrington Kiel, Emmanuel Clarton, and Hikaru Awata.

The Trojans are moving forward following a major transition period. After head coach Scott Cross departed for Georgia Tech, the program saw six players enter the transfer portal. This included Victor Valdes, who followed Cross to the Yellow Jackets, Thomas Dowd, who signed with Auburn, and the brother duo of Cobi and Cooper Campbell, who are headed to Liberty.

Building on Success

205focus.com notes that the program is coming off a stellar 2025-26 season, where the team finished 23-12. The Trojans secured consecutive Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles, eventually appearing in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Nebraska.