Motiejus Krivas Ranked Top NCAA Center Among Three Lithuanians
- According to reporting from BasketNews.lt and Sportas.lt published in September 2026, Motiejus Krivas has been named the top NCAA center ahead of the 2026–2027 season by College Basketball...
- According to Sportas.lt, the College Basketball Report top-30 center rankings place Motiejus Krivas at the very top of the list.
- Two additional Lithuanian players received high praise in the national positional breakdowns for the upcoming season, according to Sportas.lt.
According to reporting from BasketNews.lt and Sportas.lt published in September 2026, Motiejus Krivas has been named the top NCAA center ahead of the 2026–2027 season by College Basketball Report. The Lithuanian player, who turned down NBA draft opportunities to return for another season with the Arizona Wildcats, leads a group of three Lithuanian basketball talents recognized in the newly released positional rankings.
Motiejus Krivas Leads National Rankings at Arizona
According to Sportas.lt, the College Basketball Report top-30 center rankings place Motiejus Krivas at the very top of the list. Last season, the Arizona Wildcats center averaged 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks across an average of 25 minutes per game. The Wildcats advanced all the way to the NCAA Final Four before falling to the eventual national champions, the Michigan Wolverines, according to Sportas.lt reporting.
Matas Vokietaitis and Paulius Murauskas Earn Top-Ten Spots
Two additional Lithuanian players received high praise in the national positional breakdowns for the upcoming season, according to Sportas.lt. Matas Vokietaitis secured the sixth spot among NCAA centers for the Texas Longhorns. Vokietaitis posted averages of 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 26 minutes per contest last season, helping the Longhorns reach the Sweet 16 stage of March Madness. Meanwhile, Paulius Murauskas landed at seventh place among power forwards after transferring from the Saint Mary’s Gaels to the Arizona State Sun Devils, as reported by Sportas.lt. Murauskas previously averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in the WCC conference.
https://x.com/a/status/2099587741272912101
Season Outlook and Upcoming Schedule
The new NCAA college basketball season is scheduled to tip off at the beginning of November 2026, according to Sportas.lt. With multiple Lithuanian standouts occupying prominent spots on major preseason ranking lists, attention turns to how these players will perform for their respective programs when regular-season competition resumes.