Auburn has gone the European route again, gaining a commitment from Mantas Rubštavičius on Friday, according to Jonathan Giovony of Draft Express.
The 6-foot-6 guard hails from Lithuania and has spent time playing for NZ Breakers of the NBL in Australia, Lietkabelis of the EuroCup, and Zalgiris of the Euro League. At 24 years old, Rubštavičius has plenty of experience and will bring it to a revamped roster, which includes another European, Narcisse Ngoy of France.
Rubštavičius averaged 9.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists with the Breakers during the 2023-24 season, shooting 43.3 percent from three-point range.
His versatility – he’s able to handle the ball while also playing four positions – will be a great asset for Steven Pearl’s squad, which hopes to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out this past season, instead going to the NIT and winning it.
Auburn continues to add size to its rotation
Pearl and his staff have put an emphasis on adding size after getting pushed around in the paint last season. Along with Rubštavičius, the Tigers have added Bukky Oboye (7-foot-1), Own Freeman (6-foot-10), Thomas Dowd (6-foot-8) and Adam Olsen (6-foot-8).
They will hopefully fill the voids left by the departures of Keshawn Murphy (graduation), along with Filip Jovic, Elyjah Freeman, Sebastian Williams-Adams and Emeku Opurum, who all landed at other schools after entering the transfer portal.
The Tigers return just two players from last year’s rotation in Tahaad Pettiford, who returns for his junior season, and Kevin Overton. Overton came alive late in the season, scoring double digits in 14 of Auburn’s last 17 games, including 20-or-more points in seven of the last 11 games.
Pettiford hopes to improve on an up-and-down sophomore season in which he had to learn to step up his leadership role, being the only player left from the team that advanced to the 2025 Final Four and won the 2024-25 SEC regular-season title.
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