Rytas signs a long-term contract with a promising centre
Rytas Vilnius completes the lineup under the basket for the upcoming season by calling up a young Lithuanian. The 202 cm tall Oskars Pleikys from Klaipėda signed a long-term contract with the capital club.
Last year, the 22-year-old played his second season at "Betsafe-LKL". Representing Neptūnas Klaipėda in the regular season, he scored 7.1 points, rebounded 4 balls and collected a total of 8.3 efficiency points.
Oskaras showed significantly better results in the playoffs: in the quarter-final series against Vilnius "Ryta" he collected 18.5 efficiency points in two games, he stood out especially after scoring a double-double in the second game of the series - 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The best game of the regular season Rytas rookie also played against his future team. On April 10th, in the match held in Klaipėda, he scored 17 points, rebounded 8 balls and collected a total of 25 efficiency points.
Remembering this match, Rytas assistant coach Georgios Dedas says that it is always important to have young Lithuanians in the team.
"When we played in Klaipėda, Oskaras caused us a lot of trouble," says G. Dedas. "His character is very suitable for the team we are building - he is a young, never-give-up fighter who can play hard and aggressively in both positions under the basket. All this is especially reflected when Oskar fights for balls, and when he enters the field he can increase the intensity of the game. Although he still has a lot to learn, we will give him a chance to earn playing minutes. If he works hard and improves, his role in the team will definitely grow."
This summer, O. Pleikys joined the reserve Lithuanian men's basketball team, where he played three games against the Jordanian national team.
In the upcoming season, Rytas' roster will also include centres Martynas Echodas and Javin DeLaurier and power forwards Gytis Masiulis and Justin Gorham.