Auburn basketball signs ‘proven winner’ in Mantas Rubstavicius

The 2026-27 Auburn men’s basketball roster is taking shape. On Tuesday, the Tigers officially signed one of the top international players in Lithuanian guard Mantas Rubstavicius. He is one of the final players to make up the group that Steven Pearl will be leading into the upcoming season.

Rubstavicius is an extremely talented player who is a scoring threat in multiple ways. For his team in the Lithuanian Basketball League, he averaged 7.8 points per game. He can hit various shots from beyond the three-point line, whether it be an open shot or off the dribble. He doesn’t have a problem knocking down shots while being contested, either. Rubstavicius is not just a three-point shooter; he can also score around the basket as well.

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“He brings a unique combination of size, shooting ability, versatility, and basketball IQ that allows him to impact the game in a variety of ways,” Pearl said on the signing. “Just as importantly, he has earned a reputation as a selfless teammate, high-character individual, and proven winner who has consistently contributed to successful teams throughout his career.”

Rubstavicius helped lead the Lithuanian national team to the silver medal in the 2022 FIBA U20 Championship by averaging 19.7 points per game and 38 points versus France in the semifinals. He would lead the tournament in scoring.

Auburn has made an emphasis this off-season to add size and shooting for the upcoming season. Those are two areas in which the Tigers were inconsistent last season as they missed the NCAA Tournament. This Tigers team has the talent to be a much-improved basketball squad.