By Gozags.com

 

Domantas Sabonis, son of NBA Naismith Hall of Famer and Portland Trail Blazers great Arvydas Sabonis, has signed a letter-of-intent to attend Gonzaga University this fall, Bulldog head coach Mark Few said Thursday. The 6-10, 210-pound forward is currently playing with the Unicaja Málaga senior team in Spain. Sabonis, who will turn 18 next month and is the youngest member of Unicaja Málaga, has not signed a contract with the Spanish club because of his desire to play collegiately in the United States. He was born in Portland in 1996 between games four and five of the Trail Blazers’ first round matchup with the Utah Jazz. Sabonis will join returning big men Przemek Karnowski (7-1, 296), Luke Mielke (6-9, 203), Ryan Edwards (7-1, 290) and redshirt Kyle Wiltjer (6-10, 230), the latter sitting out this past season after transferring from the University of Kentucky. “Ryan has indicated a desire to redshirt so with the signing of Domas it gives us some options,” Few said. “Domas is a skilled basketball player who should have an immediate impact on our program. We’re excited to have the opportunity to allow him to continue his development as a basketball player while continuing his education,” Few said. 

 

He played for Lithuania in the 2012 FIBA U-16 European tournament, averaging 14.1 ppg, 14.4 rpg and 2.4 assists/game. He grabbed a tournament-high 27 rebounds against Poland. In the 2013 FIBA U-18 European tournament, he averaged 14.0 ppg, a tournament high 11.4 rpg and 1.4 assists/game. He had a double-double of 22 points and 22 rebounds against Serbia in 2013 in a 74-70 overtime victory. Unicaja Malaga’s Spanish league schedule ends May 25. He is averaging 2.7 ppg and 2.0 rpg with three starts in 19 appearances. As a 16-year-old he made his debut with Unicaja Málaga in 2012 in a game against Cibona Zagreb. He was loaned to Clínicas Rincón for the 2012-13 season and was recalled in by Unicaja Málaga in 2013. On October 13, 2013, he debuted in Liga ACB (Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto), the first tier professional league in Spain, scoring 6 points and  grabbing 3 rebounds in 15 minutes of action in a starting role. He is the youngest Unicaja player to debut in ACB (17 years, 5 months and 10 days). On October 18, 2013, he debuted in the Euroleague against the two-time defending champions Olympiacos Piraeus. In 2014 Sabonis was named as one of the best young European players of the year.

 

Photo: Antonio Pastor / El Mundo