Arizona center Motiejus Krivas had an impressive freshman season coming off the bench for all 36 games. Now, with the departure of starting center Oumar Ballo to the transfer portal, Krivas has the opportunity to step into a larger role for the Wildcats in the upcoming season. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has even named Krivas as an under-the-radar prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Krivas, originally from Siauliai, Lithuania, has been steadily growing and now stands at nearly 7-foot-3. His exceptional hands, long arms, high skill level, and impressive instincts on both ends of the floor have shown glimpses of his potential to be one of the top big men in college basketball. He is expected to excel as a rebounder and interior scorer at Arizona next season, but his defensive improvements and overall athleticism will determine his standing for the 2025 NBA Draft.
In his freshman season, Krivas averaged 12.1 minutes, 5.4 points, and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 55.4% from the field. Despite the opportunity to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft, he decided to return for another season at Arizona. This decision paid off when Ballo transferred to Indiana and had a strong season as a starter there, contributing 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for Arizona.
Krivas also represented Lithuania at the FIBA U20 European Championships last summer, showcasing his skills with impressive averages of 12.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 2
