Hugo Durán

Not every student arrives in the United States with a brilliant academic record, a high level of English, or a clear college path. And that's exactly why some processes require more planning and support.

Hugo Durán's story is a great example.

Hugo's profile

Hugo joined Eleven Up Sports with an interesting athletic profile, but with a clear challenge on the academic side. He had come up through Celta de Vigo's academy and was competing in División de Honor with Pontevedra, but his academic record was limited: he finished Bachillerato (Spanish high school) with a grade around 5 out of 10.

On top of that came another important factor: he didn't have the level of English needed to start a conventional college program in the United States directly.

So the question wasn't simply finding a university. We needed to find the right path for Hugo to be able to study and compete in the United States.

The first step: finding a way in

Instead of ruling out the project because of his academic situation and his English level, we proposed a different route.

Hugo began his experience in the United States at Indian Hills Community College, in Iowa, initially joining an ESL (English as a Second Language) program. This let him work first on one of the main needs he had at that point: the language.

But the goal wasn't to stay in an English program only. The plan was for Hugo to adapt to the U.S. education system, improve his English, and at the same time start building a college transcript.

And that's where a very important evolution began.

From starting in ESL to a GPA above 3.0

During his time at Indian Hills, Hugo didn't just complete the ESL program. He also began earning college credits and was able to build an academic record far stronger than the one he brought from Spain.

The result was especially significant: Hugo achieved a GPA above 3.0.

For a student who had arrived with a very tight Bachillerato transcript and without enough English to start a college degree directly, the change was major. It wasn't just about having made it into the United States. It was about proving he could adapt, study, and perform within the U.S. college system.

The next step: transferring

Once his academic situation was solid, the next goal of the process arrived: finding a four-year university that fit his progress.

The work done during his time at Indian Hills allowed Hugo to take that next step. In the end, we secured his transfer to Bethel College, in Kansas, where he could continue his academic and athletic career as a forward.

The process had changed completely compared to the starting point:

• 5/10 in Bachillerato
• Not enough English
• ESL in the United States
• College credits
• GPA above 3.0
• Transfer to Bethel College

Not every path starts the same way

Hugo's case represents one of the parts of our work at Eleven Up Sports that we like the most. Not every student needs the same path.

Some arrive with an excellent academic record. Others have a strong level of English. Others need to improve certain aspects before taking the next step. And some, like Hugo, need to build that path once they've already arrived in the United States.

The key is understanding the student's profile instead of trying to fit them into a standard model. In his case, starting with ESL at a community college turned an initial difficulty —the language and his academic record— into an opportunity to prove his ability within the U.S. college system.

Hugo's story in one sentence

Because a college experience in the United States doesn't always start directly at a four-year university. Sometimes it starts with a first step. And what matters is knowing which one is right for each student.