Lithuanian U20 Eurozone Campaign
At least six NCAA players dot the roster including Pacific's Kris Keinys
The comparatively diminutive country of Lithuania (population 2.7M) has historically punched above their relative weight class when judged by success on the European and global basketball front. As we roll into the summer of 2024, Lithuania’s U20 program is preparing for the FIBA U20 European Championships in Gdynia, Poland.
As previously shared, Pacific Tigers incoming 6’8” rising sophomore transfer Kristupas Keinys is in camp with the Lithuania U20 program and it has already been a busy start to the campaign, beginning with an eight-day training camp in Druskininkai between June 8-16 and three-day mid-June camp in Kaunas.
Later, the team had controlled scrimmages in Riga against the Latvian U20 team, defeating the hosts 89-81 on June 20th and 78-58 on June 21st. Latvia will compete in the U20’s Division B tournament (Group A) in Romania in July.
The Lithuanians are coming off last weekend’s highly competitive (France, Spain, Germany) pre-championship tournament in La Línea de la Concepción, Spain (June 28-30th) where the club went 1-2 including an opening night victory over France (57-55) followed by an 89-78 loss to the host and eventual champs Spain (3-0). Germany defeated Lithuania 85-79 on the final day as three teams finished at 1-2. Kristupas played 12 minutes in the Spain game, scoring 1 point and missing his only three. Statistics from Lithuania’s two non-Spain games were not made available.
The Lithuanians are now back home in Birštonas until this coming Tuesday, July 8th and then leave for Gdynia for one more pre-tournament scrimmage on July 10th against the host Polish side before Lietuva kicks off for real against Iceland on July 13th. Iceland features 6’8” Almar Atlason who is entering his sophomore season at Bradley after being named to the Missouri Valley All-Freshman team with the Braves.
Below is a quick look at the projected top players on the Lithuanian side on which Keinys will play:
7’2” Motiejus Krivas had an excellent freshman season as a backup to 7’0” center Oumar Ballo at Arizona (NCAA) appearing in all 36 games (5.4 ppg/4.2 rpg/19 blocks, 55.4% from the floor) including an 18-point game at Cal late in December ‘23. Spent summer of 2023 at the FIBA U20 European championship in Greece (12.9 ppg/9.7 rpg/2.4 bpg/2.0 apg/54% shooting with three double doubles). Krivas did not play vs. Spain in last weekend’s pre-tournament game.
6’8” Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s (WCC): The Captain of Lithuania’s U20 team this summer, Murauskas spent his freshman season at Arizona (Pac-12) playing in 23 games off the bench as a freshman for the Wildcats (2.7 ppg/1.2 rpb/5.0 mpg/ 14-27 3’s). Led 2022 FIBA U18 European championship in scoring at 20.7 ppg, adding 6.0 rpg. Murauskas led the way with 18 points vs Spain.
6’2” Kajus Kublickas Florida (SEC): entering his sophomore season in Gainsville after appearing in 9 games as a freshman. Represented Lithuania in the 2023 FIBA U20 Euros (6.3 ppg/3.1 apg). 16 minutes / 4 points vs. Spain.
6’5” Rokas Jocys As a freshman with Manhattan Jaspers (NCAA) he appeared in 26 games in ‘23-’24 (3.3 ppg/1.3 rpg/12. 3 pg/32% 3’s). Jocys shot 39% from three in the 2022 U18 Euro Championships. As of late April, Jocys placed his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal. 30 minutes/9 points vs Spain.
6’8” Kristupas Keinys Signed with Pacific via the Transfer Portal after playing sparingly at Minnesota as a freshman (5 gp). Averaged 4.6 ppg/3.3 rpg/44% in 16 mpg) at FIBA U18 Euros in 2022.
7’0” Matas Vokietaitis - played in U20’s in 2023; on the roster at Florida Atlantic (NCAA). 15 points/7 rebounds in 27 minutes vs. Spain.
6’4” Gediminas Alisas who plays in the Lithuanian league with Rytas-2 had 17 points in 20 minutes vs. Spain.
Others who appeared vs. Spain 6’1’ Laurynas Klimas, 6’4” Modestas Babraitis , 6’7” Domantas Šarauskas - played in U20’s in 2023, 6’4” Rytis Šakaitis - played in U18 Euros in 2022 and 6’5” Vytautas Žygas (2005).
As previously shared, Lithuania has been placed in Group D along with Iceland, Montenegro and Slovenia in the 16-team event. We expect to see a final official roster for the tournament in the coming days and will be following Kris’s progress closely.
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