LKF about S. Lukošius’ game for Germany: “It will be our duty to persuade him to play for Lithuania”
“There were a lot of all kinds of teams, camps – U15 generation, I trained there more than once, there were a lot of summer camps, but no, he wasn’t really interested in anything. That is why we have decided to go down this path, ”commented M. Lukošius to journalist Tomas Vanagas, a representative of his son’s German youth team BasketNews.
19-year-old Simonas has never played in any Lithuanian youth national team, and this year, in his debut year in the NCAA League, the Butler University Bulldogs score an average of 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 27 minutes.
“We are solving more than one decision,” Mindaugas Balčiūnas, LKF Secretary General, told reporters at Vilnius Airport on Wednesday, while waiting for a flight with the Lithuanian men’s basketball team to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Both Matas Buzelis and Ignas Brazdeikis’ brothers (Augusto, past.). The situation of S. Lukošius is one of the current issues “, M. Balčiūnas added.
Speaking about S. Lukošiai, he urged not to rush.
“Let’s wait until next year and see all the attention. Really, formally, in the future he will be able to fight for the (Lithuanian) men’s team. It will simply be our duty to convince him, ”said LKF President Vidas Gedvilas, right-hand man.
“I cannot comment on the situation. You see, and there was some kind of hurt with Matthew (Buzel). We are trying to change it, to solve it, “M. Balčiūnas explained.
According to him, the talented M.Buzelis, who is also invited to the US youth team, tends to decide to play for Lithuania. The 17-year-old is even invited to the Lithuanian men’s national team camp this summer.
“I spoke to Mato’s mother last week, please send plans to the team. We know their priorities. They want to choose a university first. We are watching, we are participating in that situation and, I think everything will be fine, ”the LKF Secretary General hoped.
The head of the organization, which gives high priority to Lithuanians competing outside the Atlantic, states that on this basis the head coach of the student team was appointed and alluded to the pending visit to the United States.
“There are more such young people. As a result, we have appointed Aurimas Matulevičius, a Lithuanian living in America, as the head coach of the student team. In order for me to be able to see them all very nicely, M. Balčiūnas can talk to everyone. – There will be one more visit to the US before the summer. Not only to talk to students, but also to Jonas (Valančiūnas), Domantas (Sabonis). The relationship with the United States is strong and I am sure we will have a really positive solution. “