TEMPE, AZ – Paulius Murauskas, formerly a standout forward for Saint Mary's, has officially committed to Arizona State University, reuniting with his former coach Randy Bennett. The move, confirmed by Murauskas via an Instagram announcement on Wednesday, marks a significant acquisition for the Sun Devils as they navigate a coaching transition. Bennett was appointed as Arizona State's new head coach on March 23rd.
Murauskas, a 6-9 Lithuanian forward, is lauded as the No. 9 player in the current transfer portal rankings, according to 247Sports. He averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season for Saint Mary's, starting in all but one of his 33 appearances. His scoring prowess was evident, with eight games exceeding 20 points.
This transfer is positioned as a key addition for Arizona State, particularly in mitigating departures from the transfer portal. Murauskas is described as the biggest offseason acquisition for the Sun Devils thus far. He joins a list of other incoming transfers and previously committed players, including guard JRob Croy, who had initially committed to Bennett during his tenure at Saint Mary's.
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Murauskas's collegiate career began with a freshman season at Arizona, where he saw limited minutes. Prior to his time at Saint Mary's, he also spent some seasons playing professionally in Lithuania. He has also represented Lithuania internationally, notably leading the FIBA U18 European Championships in scoring. The prospect of playing against his former team, Arizona, at McKale Center again, this time as a Sun Devil, has also been noted.
