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Cal Basketball

Bears Add Another Big Portal Target in Air Force Forward Rytis Petraitis

April 28, 2024
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The Bears added another key piece to their 2024 recruiting class as part of their roster rebuild, getting a big commitment from sophomore Air Force forward Rytis Petraitis‍, beating out hometown program Texas for his commitment.

The 6-7/210 soph averaged 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game for Air Force this season, bringing a well-rounded game that should compliment the roster head coach Mark Madsen has assembled in a busy portal recruiting month. As a frosh, the forward earned six Freshman Player of the Week awards while leading the conference in freshman scoring.

As a prep, Petraitis was the all-time leading scorer at The Oakridge School with 2,023 career points, averaging 27.7 points per game as senior. He also helped lead Oakridge to the SPC North Zone state title as a senior, earning team MVP all four years of high school. A multi-sport athlete, Petraitis also ran cross country as a freshman and also played baseball.

Petraitis becomes the eighth portal commit and ninth overall in the 2024 class, joining guards Andrej Stojakovic‍, Christian Tucker, Jeff Nwankwo‍ and DJ Campbell‍, wings Josh Ola-Joseph‍ and B.J. Omot‍ and F/C Lee Dort‍ in Cal’s 2024 portal class along with frosh PG Jeremiah Wilkinson‍.

Related:

Bears Add Priority Portal Transfer Guard Andrej Stojakovic

Bears Keep Rolling With Portal Transfer PG Christian Tucker

Bears Make Another Portal Addition in Minnesota SF Josh Ola-Joseph

Discussion from...

Bears Add Another Big Portal Target in Air Force Forward Rytis Petraitis

8,181 Views | 12 Replies | Last: 6 mo ago by DaveT
TruffleShuffle
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2:58p, 4/28/24
Enjoyed watching his highlight reel. While it's always difficult to gauge caliber of opponent, he appears to be an excellent facilitator and seems to have a high basketball IQ. His release on his three point shot looks a bit slow but appears to have good touch from long range when he gets open. His vert seems average but he appears to be in the right place at the right time, boxes out, and is a high motor defensive player. Seems like a do-it-all type that will be a huge asset in the starting five.
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Big C
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3:04p, 4/28/24

We're really glad you're coming to Cal, Rytis! Welcome to the family. Go Bears!!!
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calumnus
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In reply to TruffleShuffle • 3:19p, 4/28/24
TruffleShuffle said:
Enjoyed watching his highlight reel. While it's always difficult to gauge caliber of opponent, he appears to be an excellent facilitator and seems to have a high basketball IQ. His release on his three point shot looks a bit slow but appears to have good touch from long range when he gets open. His vert seems average but he appears to be in the right place at the right time, boxes out, and is a high motor defensive player. Seems like a do-it-all type that will be a huge asset in the starting five.


Ala Theo Robertson?
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Civil Bear
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3:20p, 4/28/24
Wow, I didn't realize he put up those kind of numbers as a frosh. Nice get!
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Bearly Clad
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4:00p, 4/28/24
Welcome Rytis and family to The University of California! Love the way he plays the game. You can say what you want about level of competition or whatever else but he understands angles on the court and plays with energy and motion and that's what I love about his game. At the very least he's gonna be a very good role player who fits in with the offense and knows how to create plays for himself and teammates. I think this will end up being a very important pickup for our first year in the ACC
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oskidunker
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In reply to Bearly Clad • 4:03p, 4/28/24
Bearly Clad said:
Welcome Rytis and family to The University of California! Love the way he plays the game. You can say what you want about level of competition or whatever else but he understands angles on the court and plays with energy and motion and that's what I love about his game. At the very least he's gonna be a very good role player who fits in with the offense and knows how to create plays for himself and teammates. I think this will end up being a very important pickup for our first year in the ACC



He could always join the AirForce Rotc. I wonder if he will.
Go Bears!
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bear2034
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4:18p, 4/28/24
Baller.
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Big C
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In reply to calumnus • 10:16p, 4/28/24
calumnus said:
TruffleShuffle said:
Enjoyed watching his highlight reel. While it's always difficult to gauge caliber of opponent, he appears to be an excellent facilitator and seems to have a high basketball IQ. His release on his three point shot looks a bit slow but appears to have good touch from long range when he gets open. His vert seems average but he appears to be in the right place at the right time, boxes out, and is a high motor defensive player. Seems like a do-it-all type that will be a huge asset in the starting five.


Ala Theo Robertson?

Or a la Matt Beeuwsaert. (late '80s)
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bearsandgiants
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9:28p, 4/29/24
I really like the way this team is coming together. The basketball iq is there. The sense of anticipation, both as a passer and as a recipient. This killed us last year. So many blown opportunities where someone like a Tyson tried to make a sweet no look pass or lead pass and someone else was a beat or two slow, or simply not paying attention at all. This team is going to get it done. This guy looks perfect to help fill that void and bring fans to their feet.
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smh
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In reply to Big C • 8:00a, 4/30/24
Quote:
> Or a la Matt Beeuwsaert. (late '80s)
https://www.mypersonalbasketballcoach.com
https://www.mypersonalbasketballcoach.com/about-coach-beez/
> PRIVATE SHOOTING COACH & PRIVATE BASKETBALL COACH Orange County
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HearstMining
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In reply to bearsandgiants • 8:24a, 4/30/24
bearsandgiants said:
I really like the way this team is coming together. The basketball iq is there. The sense of anticipation, both as a passer and as a recipient. This killed us last year. So many blown opportunities where someone like a Tyson tried to make a sweet no look pass or lead pass and someone else was a beat or two slow, or simply not paying attention at all. This team is going to get it done. This guy looks perfect to help fill that void and bring fans to their feet.
And he's an ACCURATE passer - on the video, he really threaded the needle a couple of times. Too many players today don't use a bounce pass, yet it's generally the easiest to receive and quickly dribble or take your shot. As a corollary, I hope Madsen modifies his offense to take more advantage of good passing. It wasn't hard for a tenacious defender to break up the whole dribble-handoff thing they ran with Daws.
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DaveT
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8:38a, 4/30/24
It's like having a second point guard on the floor. He will make everyone around him better.
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