Head coach of the Rytas-2 team, Gintaras Kadžiulis, will continue to lead the club’s youth squad – a new two-year contract has been signed. This step reflects strong confidence in the 46-year-old coach, whose contribution to the development of young talents and the team’s victories is undeniable.
Gintaras Kadžiulis, who joined the Rytas organization in 2024, has demonstrated exceptional abilities in nurturing young basketball players and guiding the team to top results.
Last year, under his leadership, the Rytas youth team achieved solid results on the international stage. The U18 team once again triumphed in the FIBA Youth Champions League, and later left no hope for opponents in the FIBA Next Gen Hoops Invitational tournament held in Vilnius, where they twice crushed The Grind Session team from the United States.
“For me, Rytas has always been more than just a club – it’s a place where people, characters, and love for basketball grow. I am very happy to continue this journey together with the youth,” said youth team coach Gintaras Kadžiulis. “The biggest goal remains the same – to help young players not only improve on the court but also grow as individuals. We want to maintain the hunger to work, trust in each other, and an atmosphere where every young person can feel important and bravely pursue their dreams. It’s a great motivation for me to see their progress, emotions, and dedication every day. I believe that together we can raise not only good basketball players but also strong people. I am very much looking forward to the new stage and am grateful for the trust shown.”
This season in international tournaments was even more successful for the Rytas youth team. In March, G. Kadžiulis’ U16 Rytas team won gold medals at the MADCUP Basket Madrid Elite tournament, defeating rivals such as Valencia Basket, Real Madrid, and Zentro Basket Madrid. In January, the Rytas youth competed in the Avance Global Cup tournament in Malaga, where they only stumbled in the final, losing after an extremely hard-fought battle against one of the most prestigious U.S. high school teams – Bella Vista Prep.
The young basketball players crowned their international tournament season with a confident triumph in the FIBA Youth Champions League, which they won for the third time in a row.
In the NKL championship this season, Rytas-2 finished sixth in the regular season, but the team’s journey in the playoffs ended in the quarterfinals, where they suffered a defeat against Kretinga-Rivile.
“I want to thank Gintaras very much for his trust in the organization, both now and a few years ago when we first reached an agreement,” said Matas Urbonas, head of the youth program. “He is a top-level professional who approaches every training session and competition with extreme precision, demanding a lot from himself, the team, and the staff. Therefore, I am glad that the club’s most talented youth will continue to be led not only by a great person but also by a leader whose work quality is beyond doubt.”
G. Kadžiulis will also coach the Lithuanian U18 national team this summer.