Valdas Vasylius
Encyclopedia
Valdas VasyliusValdas Vasylius (born September 3, 1983 in Klaipeda, is a Lithuanian basketball
forward who played collegiately
at Old Dominion University
and now plays professionally in Russian Basketball Super League newcomer Krasnye Krylya Samara. He has also played at the international level representing his home country
in 2007 Summer Universiade
.
Growing up in Lithuania, Vasylius learned to speak Lithuanian
, Russian and German before learning English.
Vasylius began as the sixth man
on the ODU squad, but was the star player by his senior year, being named to the All-CAA
First team. He also lead his team to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
his sophomore
and senior
years.
After graduating with a degree in international business, Vasylius returned to Europe to play with Polish team Anwil Włocławek, signing a one-year deal with the club. He left Polish team due to lack of playing time and joined Rethymno BC
in Greece and later KK Nevėžis
in Lithuania. In summer he signed with his hometown team KK Neptūnas
. While a talented offensive player, his lack of athleticism hurt his chances of catching on with an NBA team.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
forward who played collegiately
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
and now plays professionally in Russian Basketball Super League newcomer Krasnye Krylya Samara. He has also played at the international level representing his home country
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
in 2007 Summer Universiade
Basketball at the 2007 Summer Universiade
The Basketball competition in the 2007 Summer Universiade were held on different venues in Bangkok, Thailand between 7 - 10 August 2007 and 12–18 August 2007.-Draw:Twenty-four teams participated in the men's competition, drawn to eight groups of three...
.
Growing up in Lithuania, Vasylius learned to speak Lithuanian
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
, Russian and German before learning English.
Vasylius began as the sixth man
Sixth man
The sixth man in basketball is a player who is not a starter but comes off the bench much more often than other reserves, often being the first player to be substituted in. The sixth man often plays minutes equal to or exceeding some of the starters and posts similar statistics. He is often a...
on the ODU squad, but was the star player by his senior year, being named to the All-CAA
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
First team. He also lead his team to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
his sophomore
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
and senior
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
years.
After graduating with a degree in international business, Vasylius returned to Europe to play with Polish team Anwil Włocławek, signing a one-year deal with the club. He left Polish team due to lack of playing time and joined Rethymno BC
Rethymno BC
A.G.O.R. Aegean B.C. or A.G.O. Rethymno Aegean B.C., is a Greek professional basketball club that was founded in Rethymno, Crete in 1986. The club is also commonly known as Rethymno B.C. or Rethymno Aegean B.C...
in Greece and later KK Nevėžis
KK Nevežis
BC Kėdainiai Triobet is a profesional Lithuania basketball club which currently plays in Lithuanian Basketball League and Baltic Basketball League. BC „Nevėžis“ was founded in 1992 by Stasys Mickevičius. In 1993 BC „Nevėžis“ was renamed to KK „Notra“ because of the club supporters UAB „Notra“...
in Lithuania. In summer he signed with his hometown team KK Neptūnas
KK Neptunas
BC „Neptūnas“ is the major basketball club of Klaipėda, Lithuania participating in Lithuanian Basketball League and Baltic Basketball League. BC „Maistas“ basketball club was founded in 1962...
. While a talented offensive player, his lack of athleticism hurt his chances of catching on with an NBA team.