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Kuzminskas leaves Bears, will play pro league in Lithuania
Saulius Kuzminskas, 6-foot-11 forward, has elected not to return to the Cal basketball team, deciding instead to play professionally in his native Lithuania.
Kuzminskas saw action in 14 games as a freshman last season, scoring six points in 23 minutes of action. He missed the first six games of the year with a knee injury.
“We wish Saulius well,” said head coach Ben Braun. “We appreciate his contributions to our program, but certainly understand his desire to be closer to his family.”
A native of Vilnius, Lithuania, Kuzminskas is training with the Under-20 Lithuanian National team this summer.
Kuzminskas’ decision leaves the Bears with just three big men for next season. Center Nick Vander Laan decided to transfer for his senior season shortly after Cal’s first-round NCAA loss to Fresno State in March. Solomon Hughes will be the starter, with talented recruit Jamal Sampson and Hughes’ brother Gabriel vying for playing time off of the bench.
