Another promising talent is leaving the Rytas Vilnius youth pyramid. The 19-year-old Marijampolė native Gabrielius Bubnys, who wore the jersey of the capital’s reserve team Rytas Vilnius-2 for one year, will play across the Atlantic starting next season – the basketball player chose to continue his studies and career in the NCAA championship, representing the University of Tennessee Skyhawks.
Before his departure to the USA, rytasvilnius.lt spoke with the young basketball player about his extraordinary start in Vilnius, his decision to move across the Atlantic, and his future ambitions.
Gabrielius, let’s start with the beginning of your journey in the Rytas Vilnius system, which was indeed extraordinary. In the spring of 2025, even before signing an official contract, you participated in the Champions League with the Rytas Vilnius youth team. This tournament turned out spectacularly – you became champions, and you yourself were selected to the All-Tournament Team. What did that process look like at the time, how did you get the offer to join the team, and did you realize after this tournament that coming to play in Vilnius was the natural next step in your career?
It all started after a good season in Marijampolė when I received this offer. Without thinking twice, I accepted it – it was a great opportunity to be noticed at a higher level. I am glad that I was able to make the most of this chance. Since my teammates already knew me from the youth national teams, joining the group was not difficult, so I could demonstrate good play right away.
After a resounding spring, the official decision followed – you signed a contract with Rytas Vilnius. This meant major changes for you, as you had to move a large part of your life to the capital. What was the decision-making process like in your family? Was it easy to take this step, and what were the main reasons that led to your arrival in Vilnius?
After the Champions League tournament, everything became much clearer. I realized that I could play basketball at this level. The decision to move to the capital itself was not very difficult – after all, I stayed in Lithuania, so the distance to home was not intimidating. My family was very supportive of my choice. We considered everything together and agreed that this is the best path to climb to a higher level, which is where I have always aimed to get.
When you first came to practice as a full member of the Rytas Vilnius system, what surprised you the most and made the biggest impression?
Most of all, I felt the difference in level. Before that, I played in the Regional Basketball League (RKL), and now I became a member of a National Basketball League (NKL) team. It is not just the pace of the game and physicality that differ, but also the coaches’ requirements, the intensity of training, and their execution. That is what made the biggest impression on me.
What impression did the organization itself and its approach to a young player leave on you?
Without a doubt, this is one of the best organizations for the development of young players. Great coaches work here, and the system itself provides a lot of opportunities for young basketball players. We receive many useful tips from experienced specialists and people with more experience. I think it is simply a great place to start climbing the career ladder.
Did you immediately feel the pressure and responsibility that the Rytas Vilnius name on the jersey carries?
Of course, the Rytas Vilnius logo on the chest adds extra pressure and responsibility. However, just like for any player, once you step onto the court, that anxiety fades. When the game starts, you focus on the common team goal and simply do your job.
This season in the Rytas Vilnius-2 team was personally successful for you. How do you feel you have improved over this year, playing under coach Gintaras Kadžiulis? How has your game changed?
I believe that I really took a big step forward. For the first time, I felt the level of men’s basketball and its physicality up close. Head coach Gintaras Kadžiulis contributed immensely to my development and helped me successfully complete that first, most important transition from youth to men’s basketball. This experience will definitely leave a huge mark on my career.
Basketball consists not only of numbers on the scoreboard, but also of character building. If you compare yourself to a year ago, when you first stepped across the threshold of the Rytas Vilnius gym, and now – what kind of person have you become during this period?
This first year in Vilnius, playing men’s basketball, gave me much more self-confidence and taught me stricter discipline. Although the foundations of character are formed at an early age, this season toughened it even more. If I had to pick one main thing that I developed the most, it is undoubtedly discipline.
After the end of the season in Vilnius, you made an important decision in your career – to move to the United States. What did this college selection process look like, and why did you decide to choose this path?
At the end of the season, representatives from the university contacted me. They had been watching my game for some time and saw that I could perform at their level. The choice itself was not very difficult. It is a mid-major university that offers a great environment for a young player taking his first steps in the NCAA student league to develop.
Other Lithuanians have previously played at this university. Did you get a chance to communicate with them? Did you already know what the environment and basketball level were like there, or did you only gather information from what you read and researched yourself?
Yes, of course, I already knew about this university beforehand. Besides, I am not going there alone – I have a few acquaintances, and I have already had the chance to talk to the team’s coaches. I did a lot of research on this program and have gathered quite a bit of information about the environment that awaits me.
Rytas Vilnius is famous for closely following the paths of its alumni abroad and always welcoming them back home with great joy. Is it in your future vision and dreams to return to Vilnius one day, not to the youth system anymore, but to wear the jersey of the main Rytas Vilnius men’s team?
For now, I do not look that far into the future, but no one knows how everything will turn out after a few years of college. Without a doubt, it would be a huge honor for me to wear the jersey of the main Rytas Vilnius team one day, especially knowing that I started my path in the youth system of this club.
Will the Rytas Vilnius club remain a place in your heart where you will always feel at home?
I think so, absolutely. This very organization paved the way for my start in men’s basketball, so Rytas Vilnius will always have a special meaning to me.
Rytas Vilnius wishes the basketball player the absolute best of luck in the future.