Stepping off the Leavey Court: Christoph Tilly’s Journey From Germany to the United States
Christoph Tilly (13) and Adama-Alpha Bal (4) in a game against Saint Mary's. Photo by Nina Glick
When Christoph Tilly ’25 steps onto the court for The Ohio State University next season, it will mark the latest chapter in a story that began a continent away, with no family legacy in basketball, no early coaching advantage and no guarantees.
Tilly grew up in Chile, far from the bright lights of college arenas and Power Five conferences. According to Tilly, his parents—neither of whom played basketball—never pressured him to pursue sports. It was only later, after the family relocated to Germany, that the then-lanky teenager with a growing passion for the game began to find his place on the court.
“I just wanted to have fun,” Tilly recalled. “When I was a kid I didn’t really think this was something I was going to make a career out of.”
But at 16, everything changed. He met a coach who saw something special in him—something even he hadn’t yet recognized. That year became a turning point, not only in his basketball development but in his relationship with his father.
“When my dad saw how important basketball became to me, he got serious about it,” Tilly said. “He began talking to coaches, putting more effort into finding me a team, and really pushing me. I didn’t expect that from him, because he didn’t know the game. But he believed in me.”
That belief led Tilly to play for Alba Berlin and LOK Bernau in Germany’s Pro B North League, and eventually earn a spot on Germany’s U16 and U18 national teams. He represented his country in the Euro Championships and Euro Challengers, competing against some of the best young talent in Europe. It was during a tournament in Italy that Santa Clara University coaches first saw him play.
For many, going pro in Germany would have been the obvious next step. Tilly had the offers. But something about college basketball called to him, as it was a chance to both advance his skills and build a life off the court.
“I knew I could go pro, but I wanted something different,” he said. “I wanted to experience college and live in California.”
Santa Clara University was the first to believe in him, and they believed early. The coaching staff spent three years recruiting him, even flying out to Germany to meet him in person. They promised him the chance to play from day one. His parents had a good feeling about the school. That sealed it.
He arrived in California wide-eyed and far from home. But quickly, Santa Clara became more than a team—it became his second family.
“The three years I spent at Santa Clara were the best years of my life,” said Tilly. “The people, the culture and the lifestyle.”
But even as he thrived, Tilly never lost sight of a long-term goal: transferring to a Power Five school. He affirmed that nothing about his time as a Bronco pushed him away, and his journey was never about chasing NIL, money or fame. Through transferring, Tilly just hopes for the opportunity to challenge himself on a new stage.
He entered the transfer portal this spring, and garnered interest from 12 different schools. The decision wasn’t easy. But when he talked to Ohio State, something just felt right.
“Just like Santa Clara, they gave me the best gut feeling,” Tilly says.
Now, as he prepares for the move to Columbus, Ohio, Tilly reflects on the journey that brought him here: a journey shaped by unexpected belief, long-distance phone calls with his parents, and a love for the game that began quietly in another hemisphere.
At 17, Tilly was already living in an apartment to train with his club, returning home only on weekends. That early distance helped him prepare for the life he leads now: staying connected to his parents from afar, sharing his milestones with them even when they can’t be there in person.
As he looks ahead to the next season, he does so not as someone chasing a dream, but as someone who’s already living it.
Tilly reaffirmed his pride in being a Bronco, saying, “Santa Clara will always be home to me.”