Hawaii men's basketball team gets important commitment from Xavier transfer

HONOLULU — The Hawaii men’s basketball team gained a potentially crucial commitment for the 2024-25 season on Friday in former Xavier forward Gytis Nemeiksa, a native of Lithuania.

Nemeiska was a part-time starter at Xavier, which competes in the Big East, one of college basketball’s elite conferences, and brings some credibility to a UH roster that is still light on significant Division I experience at the midpoint of the offseason.

He was classified as a senior in 2023-24 and supplied XU with 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, while starting 20 of 34 contests.

Nemeiksa is the first scholarship commitment in several weeks for coach Eran Ganot and his staff, which still has several holes to fill for the coming season. At a rugged 6 feet 8 and 220 pounds, Nemeiksa should compete for playing time right away at small or power forward for the Rainbow Warriors.

He shot 46.9% from the field, 36.4% on 3-pointers and 64.7% from the free-throw line in his first Division I season.

The Musketeers went 16-18 overall and 9-11 in the Big East, which includes two-time reigning national champion Connecticut as well as marquee programs like Marquette, Villanova and Creighton.

Prior to his time at XU, Nemeiksa competed for Zalgiris Kaunas II, a reserve team for a professional club in his hometown, from 2020 to 2023. He was credited with 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game in helping his team to the 2023 NKL Championship.

Against eventual national champion Connecticut, Nemeiksa scored 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting and five rebounds on Jan. 10. He posted a career-high 20 points against Washington on Nov. 17.

His playing time was reduced late in the season, however, as he appeared off the bench in his last eight games for XU.

UH’s last player from Lithuania was Petras Balocka from 2008-10. Other past ‘Bows from the Eastern European nation are Vaidotas Peciukas (2002-05), Mindaugas Burneika (2000-02) and Nerijus Puida (1999-01).

UH is believed to have four scholarships still to award for 2024-25. Besides Nemeiksa, UH’s other new scholarship commitments for next season are guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, wing A.J. Economou, center Tanner Christensen and guard Marcus Greene.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.