Name: Donatas Motiejunas Position: Power Forward Height: 7-1 (2.16m) Weight: 225 (102kg) Pro Team: Benetton Treviso (Italy) Nationality: Lithuanian Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania SSR, Soviet Union Birthdate: 9/20/1990 Drafted: Declared for the 2010 NBA Draft but withdrew... Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round (20th pick overall) of 2011 NBA Draft.

Background: Motiejunas abandoned both swimming and soccer after watching a few games of his hometown basketball team, Zalgiris. He began his career in ball with Arvydas Sabonis Zalgiris youth teams and quickly asserted himself as one of Lithuania’s top future prospects. In the 2007-08 season, Motiejunas finally made Lithuania’s top professional league as a member of Zalgiris Kaunas’s senior team.

Motiejunas continued his rise to international stardom with his play in Lithuania’s U18 national team, averaging 18.2 points, 102.rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game with a 2nd place showing in the 2008 U18 European Championship. He played his final season in Lithuania’s top professional league, Aisciai Kaunas, with 19.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game while earning a spot in the LKL all-star game. It was a shock to many Lithuanian basketball observers when Motiejunas left the country to play for the Italian basketball powerhouse, Benetton Treviso.

Motiejunas had a moderately successful season in Italy after making some adjustments due to the talent level and style of play. He declared for the 2010 NBA draft, but quickly pulled out despite projections as a top 15 first round draft pick.

Just like his idol, Louis Scola, Motiejunas has the ability to get by defenders with his ball handling and soft shooting touch, but his average athleticism and lack of physicality leaves a little to be desired.