Michael Caicedo, a Spanish prospect joins La Rochelle

Michael Caicedo (1.99 m, 21 years old), a young Spanish prospect born in 2003, will strengthen La Rochelle for the remainder of the 2024-2025 Betclic ELITE season. The former FC Barcelona and Bàsquet Girona player, who had limited playing time this season at Força Lleida, arrives as a medical replacement for Lucas Hergott. Like another former FC Barcelona prospect, Tom Digbeu, the Spaniard hopes to use the French championship as a showcase to attract NBA and European scouts.

Barcelona training and already rich experience

Born in Inca, on the island of Mallorca, Michael Caicedo discovered basketball in his teens after playing football. Quickly noticed, he joined FC Barcelona’s youth academy where he made a name for himself on the international stage: winning the U16 Euro in 2019 with Spain – beating Victor Wembanyama’s France in the final – then becoming MVP of the Valencia tournament at the Euroleague Next Generation Tournament in 2020.

He made his ACB debut with Barça in January 2021 at just 17, becoming the fifth youngest player to wear the blaugrana jersey. Integrated into the first team during the 2021-2022 season, he even played in EuroLeague, appearing in 11 games.

Stints at Granada, Girona, then Lleida

In search of playing time, Michael Caicedo was loaned to CB Granada in 2023. There he set his career high with 15 points against Fuenlabrada. Subsequently, he was invited to the NBA Draft Combine. The following season, he joined Girona but was slowed by a foot injury. He bounced back in 2024 by signing with Força Lleida, where he struggled to get going (1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in less than 9 minutes on average, over 12 appearances) before his departure was announced late morning.

✍🏼 Comunicat | Michael Caicedo

Gràcies per la implicació i molta sort en el teu futur Michael!#HioposLleida #LigaEndesa #Lleida https://t.co/csP7ebtc4o

— HIOPOS LLEIDA (@flleida) March 31, 2025

With La Rochelle, Michael Caicedo has a new opportunity. A chance to prove, in a physical and high-profile championship, that he still has the potential to compete at the highest level.