Matas Deniusas chooses Rhody

Talented 6-foot-9 Lithuanian forward Matas Deniusas is heading to Rhode Island to play for Archie Miller and the Rams. The UT-Martin transfer collected Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and OVC Second Team All Conference honors in 25-26 after averaging 12.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.5 assists per game with shooting splits of 43/34/75. An 11-time OVC Freshman of the Week winner, the second most in conference history, Deniusas had plenty of suitors (more on this below) given his versatility and three years of eligibility remaining.

It’s another solid infusion for Rhody - as Deniusas joins fellow portal addition Dylan Williamson in Kingston - providing the staff with a still-budding competitor who can stretch the floor offensively and who offers length on the other side of the ball. He slots in nicely with veteran returnees like Jahmere Tripp, Jonah Hinton and Mo Sow, toting a unique set of skills complementary to/and for the unit. He’s also very much looking forward to teaming with fellow 6-foot-9 Lithuanian and incoming freshman Nedas Raupelis.

We connected to discuss his game and commitment to the Rams:

CDD: You had a great year last year in the OVC. What areas of your game grew the most between when you set foot on campus and March?

Matas Deniusas: Coming in, I think the biggest growth for me was my overall pace and understanding of the game. College basketball is really physical and fast, so I had to adjust quickly. I improved a lot defensively, being more disciplined, communicating, and understanding team concepts. Offensively, I became more confident in making plays, not just scoring but creating for others and reading the game better.

CDD: What specifically attracted you to Rhode Island as you got into the portal process?

MD: What really stood out to me about Rhode Island was the coaching staff and their vision for me. They made it clear how I fit into their system and how they plan to develop me as a player. I also love the competitiveness of the Atlantic 10. I felt like it’s the right place to go.

CDD: What other schools beyond Rhody offered you or showed significant interest in this process?

MD: I had interest from a few strong programs like Minnesota, Richmond, Utah, Kansas State and Oklahoma. I decided to go on only 3 visits - Richmond, Rhode Island, and Minnesota. At the end of the day, Rhody felt like the best fit for me.

CDD: I know you and incoming freshman Nedas Raupelis have a history and relationship of knowing one another. Can you provide fans some insight into it and how his commitment to Rhode Island may have impacted yours?

MD: We went to the same school for some time, played against each other for a long time, and I even had a chance to be teammates with him a long time ago. He for sure was one of the biggest reasons for me to commit here. It’s exciting because I’ll have the chance to talk Lithuanian in the USA, also I’ll feel way more confident and comfortable playing with a Lithuanian.

CDD: Please complete this sentence: In Matas Deniusasm Rhode Island is getting a person and player who ______________….

MD: …is all about team success and constant improvement.

Deniusas is the type of player Rhode Island has missed far more than landed in previous years and it’s clear that AD Pat Lyons and URI President Marc Parlange have increased NIL commitment this year. Beyond Deniusas, who per above had offers and interest from several Power schools, Rhode Island is appearing on the lists of many others receiving P5 interest too. It remains up to Miller and staff to identify, secure, and most importantly coach them up — but it’s clear Rhode Island is operating differently this offseason.

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Photo courtesy of UT Martin Athletics via 247 Sports