The Rytas Vilnius community welcomes the start of 2026 with special news — one of the club’s most recognizable figures of the past five years is returning to the Lithuanian capital. Lithuanian Basketball League champion Kenneth “Speedy” Smith is back in Vilnius.
The last time the American guard wore the black, white, and red jersey, he did not hide his affection for the city, stating that he felt at home in Vilnius and would happily stay longer. Today, with the symbolic beginning of the new year, those wishes have become reality.
“Speedy’s status in the context of European basketball is unquestionable. After a successful season with Rytas, he went on to prove his value with leading teams in European competitions, so his experience and winner’s mentality will be extremely important for us,” said Rytas Vilnius head coach Giedrius Žibėnas.
“With a large part of our core having left the team in recent years, it was important for us to bring someone back. I believe this will make his adaptation much quicker. Speedy will add creativity and composure during decisive stretches of games, and just as importantly, allow our current players to perform in their natural positions.”
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Smith returns to Vilnius not only as an experienced floor general, but also as a player who has proven his value on the international stage. After a successful stint with Rytas Vilnius, he continued to showcase his skills in strong European leagues. For two years, he was one of the key leaders of Hapoel Jerusalem, with whom he won the Israeli Cup and reached the FIBA Basketball Champions League Final Four, eventually falling only in the final to Telekom Baskets Bonn. In the 2023–2024 season, Smith finished as the Israeli League’s assists leader, averaging the most assists per game.
“For some time, we were looking for a guard whose main strengths would not be scoring, but the ability to control the tempo, bring calmness, and defend,” said Rytas Vilnius sporting director Artūras Jomantas.
“In this case, we acquired a player who not only fits our needs perfectly, but also knows the coach and the environment he is coming into. This will undoubtedly make his adaptation easier. Naturally, Speedy returns as a more mature player, but also one who has accumulated a great deal of valuable experience — and that is very important for our team.”
Before returning to Rytas Vilnius, the 191 cm tall point guard also competed in the Turkish League, representing Türk Telekom Ankara and Merkezefendi. This season, Smith has averaged 7.4 points and 4.0 assists per game.
In the memories of Vilnius fans, Speedy remains closely associated with the unforgettable 2021–2022 season, when his leadership on offense guided the team to the Lithuanian Basketball League championship. During that title run, Smith played 40 games, averaging 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, while his composure in decisive moments of the finals proved to be one of the key factors in securing the championship.