BERKELEY – Rytis Petraitis has signed to play for the California men's basketball program, head coach Mark Madsen announced Wednesday. Petraitis joins the Golden Bears for the upcoming 2024-25 season with two years of eligibility remaining after playing two seasons for Air Force.
 
Petraitis, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Arlington, Texas, has averaged 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his collegiate career while playing 56 games and making 36 starts across two seasons at Air Force. A 48% career shooter from the floor – and 34% from beyond the 3-point arc – Petraitis made a statistical leap this past season with career-best averages in points (15.7), rebounds (6.3) and assists (3.7). He led Air Force in all three categories as well as steals (1.6) and blocks (0.9) per game.
 
"Rytis is capable of doing just about anything on the court and will be a tremendous addition to our basketball program," Madsen said. "His playmaking ability on the wing shines, as he averaged more than 15 points, six rebounds and three assists as a sophomore. Our staff loves Rytis' mature approach to the game and he comes from a great basketball family. We can't wait to have them as Golden Bears."
 
Petraitis was one of only 11 players nationally to average at least 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season. He scored in double figures 20 times in 24 games played and racked up six 20-point performances, including a career-high 27 points against Colorado State. The forward triple-doubled with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists at UNLV and added two more double-doubles, including a 26-point, 10-board effort against New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
 
Petraitis was the top scoring freshman in the Mountain West in 2022-23, totaling 317 points while averaging 10.4 PPG. He was a six-time Mountain West Freshman of the Week and tallied six double-doubles throughout the season, including an 18-point, 13-rebound effort at Colorado State.
 
Petraitis is a career 68.1% free-throw shooter (213-of-313) and has totaled 68 steals and 45 blocks in his 56 games played.
 
Petraitis is the all-time leading scorer at The Oakridge School (Arlington, Texas), finishing with 2,023 career points while averaging 27.7 PPG as a senior in 2020-21. He attended the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in 2021-22. Both of his parents played basketball at Oregon State.
 
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