Antanas Kavaliauskas 
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Years at Barton: |
2003-05 |
Country:
Lithuania |
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Honors at Barton: |
2004 1st Team All-Jayhawk West 2004 1st Team All-Region VI |
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Texas A&M Honors: |
2006 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team 2007 Big 12 Second Team |
Olympic Event:
Lithuanian Men's Basketball Team |
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Career Highlights: |
Lithuanian Junior National Team Lithuanian University National Team Lithuanian National Team Professional Career in Europe (2007-Present) |
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Kavaliauskas is not only the first Barton men’s basketball player to compete in the Olympics, but the first former Texas A&M University player to represent his country at the games as well.
After just missing the team’s cut, Kavaliauskas was a late roster addition resulting from an injury to another player. Kavaliauskas averaged double figures in points and rebounds his sophomore season, earning him 2004 1st Team All-Conference and All-Region VI honors.
Moving on to Texas A&M, Kavaliauskas earned the 2006 Big 12 Conference All-Newcomer award followed by 2nd Team honors his senior year. Representing his country and earning awards at various levels throughout his playing career, Kavaliauskas has been playing at the professional level in Europe since college.
Kavaliauskas will be the first of the Barton contingent to hit the Olympic stage in London as the Lithuanian team will open their pool play on July 29 at 4:15 p.m. CDT against Argentina. Lithuania will be participating in Group B, the same group as the U.S. team. Lithuanian should advance to quarterfinal round after most likely finishing fourth in pool behind the solid teams from France and Argentina.
Before Barton
Coming from Vilnius Lithuania, Antanas is a long way from home. He averaged 11 points, 3 assists, and snagged 7 rebounds per game playing for “SILUTE” a club team. He shot 58 percent from the field, 70 percent from the line, and a whopping 50 percent from beyond the ark. Antanas helped his team win the Lithuanian Basketball Schools Championship in 2001. He also picked up MVP honors in the Lithuanian Secondary School Tournament 2003.
Barton Career Honors
Kavaliauskas capped off a great sophomore season for the Barton men’s basketball team by earning a selection to the All-Jayhawk West 1st team. Teammate Aubrey Bruner was also recognized for his play during his sophomore season, being tabbed an honorable mention selection by the coaches in the West. Kavaliauskas also earned a 1st team All-Region VI selection as well.
Kavaliauskas led the Cougars in several categories this season including scoring and rebounding, where he posted double figure averages. Kavaliauskas averaged 17.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest to become the 1st Barton County Cougar since Mark Hutton to average a double-double in rebounding and scoring. Hutton averaged 24.6 points and 12.3 rebounds a game during the 1991-92 season.
The 6-11 center from Lithuania also connected on 59 percent of his shot, hitting 230-of-390 from the floor. Kavaliauskas also led the team in blocked shots and was 3rd in assists. He was joined in the All-West 1st team by Torre Johnson and BJ Walker of Garden City, Keoni Watson from Seward County, AJ Calvin of Butler County and Keddric Mays of Cloud County. Johnson was selected as the Player-of-the-Year in the West.
Kavaliauskas was joined on the 1st team All-Region VI by the other 5 members of the All-West team along with Ryan Martin of Coffeyville, Akeen Wright of Neosho County, Damien Lolar of Cowley County, and Stanley Billings of Independence from the Jayhawk East.
Links to: 2003-04 Freshman Year 2004-05 Sophomore Year
Moving on to the Next Level
Kavaliauskas was the 1st Cougar since Mark Hutton more than 10 years ago to average a double double for the season. The 6-11 sophomore from Lithuania averaged 17.6 points and an even 10 rebounds per contest this season. He shot nearly 60 percent from the floor, hitting 230-of-390 shots. He chose A&M over South Carolina and Tennessee, both members of the Southeastern Conference.
“I believe it was the best situation for me,” Kavaliauskas said of his decision to play for A&M next season. “I think the Big XII is the best conference in the nation. The Southeastern Conference is more of a running conference. For the past two years with Coach Campbell we have been playing high-low, much like Coach Gillespie is doing at A&M.”
Bill Gillespie just took over the A&M program this past season and took the Aggies 7 wins to a 21-10 season and 3rd round contest in the NIT before their season finally came to an end.
“I expect to play right away,” Kavaliauskas said of next season at A&M. “They told me I will be the next part of the puzzle to make them a stronger team.”
Kavaliauskas had a career-high of 29 points against Seward County this season and grabbed 21 rebounds in a game against Southwest Missouri State-West Plains this year. That was 4th best all-time at Barton.
*** If you find an error in this reporting, please contact the Barton Sports Information Office
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Schedule/Results |
*** All Times are Central Time ***
July 29
Men's Basketball
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Lithuania lost to Argentina 102-79
Antanas - DNP
(Results)
July 31
Men's Basketball
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Lithuania beat Nigeria 72-53
Antanas 6pts (Results)
August 2
Men's Basketball
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Lithuania lost to France 82-74
Antanas 5pts (
Results
)
August 4
Men's Basketball
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Lithuania lost to U.S. 99-94
Antanas 6pts (Results)
August 6
Men's Basketball
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Lithuania beat Tunisia 76-63
Antanas 6pts (Results)
August 8
Men's Basketball
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Lithuania lost to Russia 83-74
Antanas 0pts (Quarterfinals)
(Results)