BYU basketball has added another hooper to their 2026-27 roster in Lithuanian wing Dovydas Buika. Buika, a 6'6" movement shooter with playmaking ability, is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and impressed in the international U18 circuit. He joins Kevin Young's roster in Provo and leaves three spots yet to fill.
SIGNED. pic.twitter.com/X2ZgrfTisI
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) July 8, 2026
Flashing all kinds of potential in every facet of the game, Buika nearly posted a triple-double in a winning effort against Serbia, in which he scored 20 points (on 4-5 shooting from distance), tallied 9 assists, and gathered 8 rebounds.
Dovydas Buika Highlights. Going to be a great addition for the Cougars next season.🔥 pic.twitter.com/TTksNFzHLI
— Church Ball: A BYU Hoops Pod (@churchballpod) July 8, 2026
At 19 years of age, Buika has a bit of a set shot when launching from a distance, and almost looks more natural and fluid when forced to contort in the air. He differentiates himself from prospects like Aleksej Kostic and Tyler Mrus from last season thanks to his self-creation and playmaking reel. The Cougars were sunk last year thanks to a lack of creation ability from AJ Dybantsa's satellites -- Kevin Young is determined to avoid the same mistakes with this year's roster.
Per Robby McCombs, BYU utilized Jake Wahlin's Lithuanian language skills in Buika's recruitment (Wahlin served a full-time mission in Lithuania). That helped BYU gain the edge over competing programs like Illinois and Arizona, two programs that Buika visited near the end of 2025.
But Buika comes with his fair share of drawbacks, as his clear lack of athleticism and burst off the dribble could cause him to struggle against the quick, physical guards in the Big 12 Conference. For that reason, it's difficult to project his role with BYU basketball at the beginning of the season, despite his strong pick-and-roll instincts, capable ball-handling skills, and reliable shooting numbers.
The news of a new signee is a band-aid for fans still anxious for news of a starting center prospect. The Cougars' starting lineup is just four strong as of today, and while Buika's announcement is exciting, the team remains incomplete.
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