After Sarunas Marciulionis and Arvydas Sabonis - WHO's NEXT?

Rimas Gedeika, a marathon runner, is a senior product development analyst in an insurance corporation. He is also an avid Lithuanian sports enthusiast.

To attain this position was not an easy task. It did not happen overnight. Sarunas Marciulionis and Arvydas Sabonis had to make many personal sacrifices, spend countless numbers of hours obtaining financial support, organizing the players into a team so that Lithuania, for the first time as an independent country, could form a team which would qualify for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. Their efforts paid off. The whole world was amazed that this hastily-organized team could not only compete with the best teams in the world, but even more amazingly, win a bronze medal!

To show the world that the 1992 bronze medal was no fluke, the Lithuanian Team in the 1996 Olympic Games, in Atlanta, Georgia, again won the bronze medal. Again, it was Sarunas and Arvydas who provided the leadership, the drive, the never give up attitude that inspired their teammates to give their all, to play to their highest level. Both played with enthusiasm, pride, and courage. They played with swollen knees, swollen ankles, and bad backs. They ignored the pain. They played. And they won. They won not only the bronze medal, but the hearts of all Lithuanians everywhere. They raised our Lithuanian pride one hundred fold.

In addition to their Olympic success, they have also had great success in Europe and in the NBA. Their stature on and of the basketball court has been very instrumental in opening the doors for young Lithuanian basketball players to get scholarships to play basketball in American colleges.

As much as we hate to see it, the day will come when both Sarunas and Arvydas will have to hang up their playing shoes. Sarunas has already done so due to ailing knees shortly after the 1996 Olympic Games. Arvydas is now in the twilight of his brilliant career. This being the case, the question that is foremost in everybody's minds is what will be the future of Lithuania's basketball after Sarunas and Arvydas? Will Lithuania have any players who will be able to fill their shoes?

Currently, Lithuania has a core of players which might produce successors to Sarunas and Arvydas. Some of the players are already known to us. For example, there is Arturas Karnisovas, who has played very well on both Olympic teams. In 1996, he was selected as Europe's best basketball player. Then there is the 7'3" Zydrunas Ilgauskas who, this year, in his rookie year, has taken the NBA by storm. In the Rookie All-Star Game, Zydrunas was selected as the game's MVP; the first time that a foreign player received such an award. He was also selected on the NBA's 1997 Rookie All-Star Team.

In addition to Arturas and Zydrunas, there are other good Lithuanian basketball players, such as Einikis, Timinskas, Pacesas. They are currently playing in Lithuania. There is another group of players who are playing in colleges in America. It is this group that I would now like to introduce to you.

Alvydas Tenys

23 years old, from Vieksniai, a 6' 11" freshman, center, from Rutgers University, New Jersey. (Alvydas is about to drive to the basket at the right.)

Playing center is probably one of the most demanding positions in basketball. Coming from Europe, where defense often plays second fiddle to offense, to play in the Big East Conference which has always been known for its big, physical centers, required Alvydas to make drastic, quick adjustments to his accustomed playing style. It was not an easy transition: for it required learning many different defensive plays and playing at a more intensive, physical level. Even though he had to make adjustments to his playing style, this did not prevent him from leading his team in blocked shots, or from being among the top shot blockers in the Big East Conference

For a big man, Alvydas has a nice, soft shot from anywhere within the paint. He is an agile rebounder, and when the need arises, he can make the three-point shot. He is also a fine passer who often finds the open man for an easy lay up.

This year, Alvydas helped Rutgers, for the first time in many years, reach the Quarter Finals in the Big East Tournament. After evaluating Alvydas's first year's progress, Rutgers's coach stated that this fall Rutgers's fans will see the emergence of the real Alvydas, a player whose impact will be felt for the next three years.

Sarunas Jasikevicius

23 years old, from Kaunas, a 6'5" senior forward, from Maryland University.

Sarunas played on the 1997 Lithuanian Junior Team which competed in the World Junior Championships. This year, he was selected to play on the Men's Team which will play in the Men's World Basketball Championships in Greece.

The 1997 season was his best. He led the team both in three-point shooting and in foul throwing. He helped Maryland get into the NCAA Tournament where his overall playing (especially his three-point shooting) enabled Maryland to reach the "Sweet Sixteen" group.

Rimantas Kaukenas

22 years old, from Kaunas, a 6' 4" sophomore guard, from Seton Hall University, New Jersey.

Rimantas drives well to the basket, has a good shot from within the paint, and a very good shot from the three point range. He plays a tenacious, aggressive game -- always giving more than a 100% effort.

In 1997, he played on the Lithuanian Junior Team which played in the World Junior Championship Games, in Sydney. Australia. This year, he, along with Kestutis Marciulionis, has been selected to play for the Lithuania in the European Junior Championships.

Antanas Vilcinskas

23 years old, from Kaunas, a 7' 0" senior center from Valparaiso University, Indiana.

1997 was truly an outstanding year for both Antanas and Valparaiso. He helped Valparaiso achieve the following firsts: win its conference championship; play in the NCAA Tournament; and reach the "Sweet Sixteen" Group. In so doing, Valparaiso became the Tournament's Cinderella Team.

During the Tournament, Antanas played with great zest -- putting forth that "extra something". In its second game, Valparaiso was trailing by a point with a minute left in the game. A teammate shot the ball. It was off target. Antanas grabbed it and, with one tremendous upward push, he rose through Michigan's giants, and drove the ball through the hoop! With that, Valparaiso was off to the Sweet Sixteen!

Marius Kovaliukas

22 years old, from Kaunas, a 6' 7" freshman forward, from Central Connecticut University. (Marius scores another two points with this shot on the left.)

As a freshman, Marius was the team's leading three-point scorer and second in total scoring. He handles the ball well, is a strong rebounder, and has good moves driving towards the basket.

Kestutis Marciulionis

22 years old, from Kaunas, a 6' 2" sophomore guard, from University of Delaware. (Kestutis drives towards the basketball below)

Many consider Kestutis to be Lithuania's premier point guard. In 1994, playing in the 18 and under European Championships, Kestutis helped Lithuania win the European Championship. In that tournament he was selected as its MVP. In 1996, he played on the Lithuanian Team which won Europe's Junior (under 22 years of age) Championship. In 1997, he was a member of the Lithuanian Junior Team that played in the World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia.

This year, Kestutis was selected to play on both the Lithuania's Junior Basketball Team (European Championships), and Men's Basketball Team (World Championships).

For Lithuania, Kestutis plays point guard; for Delaware -- a shooting guard. He has an excellent understanding of the game, and handles the ball very well. He is very fast; drives well towards the hoop. His passes are crisp and accurate, often times arriving in the hands of a surprised teammate for an easy basket. When Delaware needs instant offense, it turns to Kestutis. He can shoot from any where on the floor especially from the three-point range. He was the team's leading three-point scorer.

This year, Kestutis led Delaware to its Conference's title and to its first appearance, in the last five years, in the NCAA Tournament.

Marius Janulis

23 years old, from Vilnius, a 6' 5" senior guard, from Syracuse University, New York.

In 1996, Marius played on Lithuania's Team that won the European Junior Championships, and in 1997, he was also on the Team that played in the World Junior Championships in Australia. He led the team in both three-point scoring, and in foul shooting.

Marius was instrumental in helping Syracuse win second place in the Big East Tournament, and be ranked 15th in the final standings. His NCAA Tournament play was excellent. In his first game, with 1.2 seconds left in the game and Syracuse trailing by two points, Marius received a pass well outside the three-point range. Grabbing the ball, he jumped, let it fly, and swoosh, it went right through the hoop. A victory for Syracuse!

In the next game, Marius shot several crucial three-point baskets that enabled Syracuse to win and move on to the "Sweet Sixteen" group.

Marius is just as talented off the court as he is on the court. This year, he was selected on the All-Academic All-Star Team having a four year grade point average of 3.84 (out of 4).

This summer he'll graduate with a double major: one in Computer Science and the other in Economics.

His dream is to play in the NBA for several years, then return to Lithuania, and use the skills that he gained in the classroom to aid Lithuania in Her economic progress.

Mindaugas Lydedka

22 years old, from Kaunas, 6' 8" sophomore, from Daytona Beach Community College, Florida.

He is a strong rebounder with excellent moves towards the basket. This year we will have a greater opportunity to see Mindaugas in action for he will be playing for Sacred Heart in Connecticut. Mindaugas recently played in the World Junior Championships in Australia.

Gintautas Vileika

23 years old, from Vilnius, a 6' 5" senior forward, from Monmouth University, New Jersey.

Gintautas was the second high school player from Lithuania to receive a scholarship to finish his senior year at an American high school. (The first was his ex-teammate, Giedrius Aidietis, who graduated from Monmouth in 1997.)

Gintautas is a greater leaper with springs in his leg: he has a very fast first step off the drill. This step, more often than not, leaves his defender flat-footed on the floor.

In 1997, playing together with Giedrius (the first time that two Lithuanian players played on the same American college basketball team), Gintautas helped Monmouth University win, for the first time in its history, its Conferences Championship and be invited to the NCAA Tournament. Gintautas also played on the Lithuanian Basketball Team which played at the World University Games in Spain.

Gintautas is graduating this year with a B.A. in Business Administration. He returns to Lithuania to face new challenges -- both on and off the court.

During this past season, I had many opportunities to see most of these players in action. I also had an opportunity to talk to them about their experiences both on and off the court.

All of the players want to continue playing basketball after graduating from college. They want to play at the highest level that their talents will take them to, whether it be in the NBA, in Lithuania, or in any other country in the world. However, they are also very cognizant that their playing days are limited, and that they must prepare themselves for "life after basketball". Thus, after evaluating all their options, they had concluded that by going to college in America, they had the best chance of achieving both of their goals.

To attain both of these goals in Lithuania would be extremely difficult. To have a shot at having a career in basketball, one must first be selected by one of the professional clubs. Once selected, he must practice, practice, and practice. Such a schedule makes it extremely difficult to pursue one's studies in a University. This is not the case in America.

Here they can go to college where they can further refine their basketball skills, play against top-notch competition, and study for their degree.

To obtain a basketball scholarship, and then once having obtained it not to lose it, is not an easy task. With very few exceptions, most of them completed their high school junior year in Lithuania, or graduated from high school in Lithuania. Those who completed their junior year, entered an American high school to complete their senior year. The others entered an American preparatory school.

During their high school senior year in America, they faced a number of challenges. One was to quickly master the English language so that they would be able to graduate and pass the college entrance exams. The second one was to play great -- for they only had one year in which to impress the college coaches for a basketball scholarship. The third one was to adjust to their new environment.

To overcome these challenges they had to possess good athletic skills, intellectual abilities, a huge amount of self-confidence, courage, and when knocked down, the strength to bounce back and continue to move forward. They also received help from outside sources -- their American host families (families with whom they stayed while attending high school). These families helped them to overcome various culture shocks and adjust to the American way of life.

After many a game, I have observed that they are quite popular with the student body and their fans -- young and old. Quite often they are asked for their autographs and older folks want to congratulate them or want to say hello. They are easily approachable, easy to talk to. Thus, they in their own way have already become Lithuania's ambassadors of good will.

Six of the nine players appeared either in the Big East or the NCAA Tournaments. They were frequently seen on national television and their play was frequently commented upon by the announcers. Their comments went something like this, "They have an excellent understanding of the game, handle the ball well, are excellent three-point shooters, good foul shooters, and they hustle. Their one weakness is their defense, and this may be because defense is not as important as offense in Europe. In America, it is just as important and, in some instances, even more so."

It was also nice to see that even with busy athletic and academic schedules they still have time to visit the Lithuanian Community in their area. We, in Philadelphia, are fortunate to have several of the players residing within a short distance of St. Andrews Church -- the hub of all our activity. As a result, we have had Alvydas Tenys visit our Vinco Kreves School. He talked about his experiences as a basketball player -- here and in Lithuania.

Kestutis Marciulionis has also helped prepare our young basketball team, ARAS, for their competition in the Lithuanian Junior Basketball Championships in Detroit.

In conclusion, I would like to return to our original question; "After Sarunas and Arvydas -- what next?" It appears that Lithuania has the talent, but is talent alone good enough to win an Olympic Medal? Sarunas and Arvydas did not elevate Lithuania's Basketball to its present heights by just their talents, but by their hearts, their souls, and their love for Lithuania.

Will the current crop of Lithuanian players be able to do this? If yes, then we will have players who will be able to fill their shoes. We will know better this summer -- after the European Junior Championships and Men's World Champonships.