Wisconsin basketball freshman forward Aleksas Bieliauskas starred for Lithuania at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket tournament on Sunday.
Bieliauskas, who officially signed with the Badgers on May 8, dropped 15 points, snared eight rebounds and logged a steal in Lithuania’s 106-66 victory over Romania in group play on Sunday. The 6-foot-9 forward shot 6-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe as the second-leading scorer on the team.
The future Badger also accounted for 10 points and a team-best 11 rebounds in his country’s opening contest of the circuit against Greece. That preceded tallies of six points, eight rebounds and three steals in an 82-79 defeat at the hands of Czechia on Monday. Through three group stage games, he’s averaged 10.3 points and a team-leading nine rebounds off 52.6% from the floor.
Hailing from Kaunas, Lithuania, Bieliauskas boasts previous FIBA experience. In the 2023 U-18 European Championships, he averaged 8.6 points and 6.1 rebounds off 46.3% in seven appearances. During the 2022 U17 World Cup, he was responsible for 8.6 points (48.3% FG) and 9.6 rebounds per game. Against a United States squad rostering future NBA players Cooper Flagg, Jeremiah Fears Jr. and Ronald Holland, Bieliauskas even showed out with eight points and 11 rebounds in the semifinals.
Outside of FIBA play, Bieliauskas last played for Zalgiris II in the Lithuanian NKL. In 45 contests, the newly-signed Badger averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per match off a blistering 39.3 percent clip from beyond the arc.
Bieliauskas is one of two international signees in Wisconsin’s class of 2025, alongside New Zealand guard Hayden Jones. Jones just competed in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup alongside future Badger Jackson Ball (class of 2026). Like Jones, Bieliauskas’ two-way ability and willingness to stretch the floor make him a unique talent with rotational upside for UW as he progresses in the United States.
Bieliauskas projects to suit up alongside forward Elijah Gray, transfer guard Braeden Carrington and returning guard Jack Janicki on the bench this coming season. UW begins that journey with an exhibition against Oklahoma in late October in Milwaukee.
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