Rytas Vilnius is launching a Patrons Club dedicated to supporting youth basketball development. Civinity, a building maintenance, engineering, and tech solutions group, has become the first partner to join the initiative. A support agreement has been signed with Civinity to bolster the youth program at Rytas Vilnius.
The initiative aims to bring together businesses and private patrons whose contributions will help the club plan its development work with promising prospects more consistently. The funds will be directed toward coaching staff, sports science applications, and expanded growth opportunities for young players.
“We have a clear pathway from youth teams to professional basketball: our players already compete in RKL and NKL, and the most promising get opportunities with the senior team. Now, we want to strengthen this pathway by adding more individual training, sports science, scholarships, and high-level international fixtures. The Patrons Club is crucial because it allows us to plan youth development several years ahead rather than season by season,” explains Martynas Giga, CEO of Rytas Vilnius.
Ambition: One of Europe’s top youth systems
Today, Rytas Vilnius youth players gain experience across various competitive levels: Rytas-2 competes in the National Basketball League (NKL), while Rytas-MRU plays in the Regional Basketball League (RKL). The youth squad has already achieved international success, notably capturing the FIBA Youth Basketball Champions League title. Support from the Patrons Club will help make this transition from youth basketball to the senior team even more seamless.
Vilnius has a long-term ambition to build one of Europe’s top five youth basketball systems. The Patrons Club is being formed to elevate the daily training and competitive conditions available to young talents.
Key priorities for support include scholarships for high-potential prospects and upgraded training facilities. The club also aims to expand its use of sports science in player development and provide more opportunities to compete against elite domestic and international peers.
The youth program is designed to prepare players for the transition to professional sports. Rytas Vilnius’s ultimate goal is for homegrown talent to step into the first team and pursue careers at the highest level.
“Success in youth basketball cannot be built in a single season. It requires time, top-tier coaching, proper training conditions, and high-caliber competition. We are contributing so that Rytas Vilnius can systematically develop its players for the senior roster. If some of them eventually represent the Lithuanian national team, that will be the greatest reward for this support,” says Civinity founder and Chairman of the Board Deividas Jacka.
The signed agreement formalizes Civinity’s involvement in the Patrons Club. The group has also submitted an investment proposal to become a long-term strategic shareholder of Rytas Vilnius. The investment deal has not yet been finalized; its terms remain subject to negotiation with current shareholders and require necessary approvals.
Other businesses and private patrons are invited to join the Patrons Club. The minimum contribution is set at 10,000 euros per season. All funds will go directly toward the Rytas Vilnius youth program and player development.