Arnas Velička

Arnas Velička (born 10 December 1999) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Champagne Châlons-Reims of the LNB Pro A.[1]

Arnas Velička
Champagne Châlons-Reims
PositionPoint guard
LeagueLNB Pro A
Personal information
Born (1999-12-10) 10 December 1999
Kaunas, Lithuania
NationalityLithuanian
Listed height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2016Žalgiris-2 Kaunas
2016–2018FC Barcelona B
2017–2018→Lietkabelis Panevėžys
2018–2020Žalgiris Kaunas
2018–2019→University of Tartu
2019–2020→CBet Prienai
2020–presentChampagne Châlons-Reims
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Lithuania
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
2016 Spain U17 National Team
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
2016 Turkey U18 National Team
2017 SlovakiaU18 National Team
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
2015 Lithuania U16 National Team

Professional career

In 2015, after solid performance in FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship he signed with Žalgiris-2 Kaunas. In his first season with the team, Velička reached the finals were they lost to Sūduva Marijampolė and won silver medals. Velička averaged 4.7 points and 1.7 assists in 14.3 minutes per game.

In January 2016, Velička played for Žalgiris Kaunas youth in Adidas Next Generation Tournament which was held in Kaunas. Velička and Isaiah Hartenstein helped the team to win and qualify for the final stage of the tournament where his team finished third in Group A and didn't qualify for the final game. He was selected to an All-Tournament Team, averaging 14.7 points, 8.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 30 minutes in 7 games of both tournaments.

On 3 July 2016, Velička signed with FC Barcelona B of LEB Oro.[2] From 7 to 10 September he participated in the Basketball Without Borders camp in Lohja, Finland and was named as the Overall Camp Most Valuable Player.[3] On 3 February 2017, Velička was loaned to Lietkabelis Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Basketball League until the end of the 2017–18 season.[4] After the 2017–18 season, Velička returned to Žalgiris Kaunas and was loaned to University of Tartu of the Estonian Basketball League for the 2018–19 season.[5]

On June 23, 2020, he has signed with Champagne Châlons-Reims of the LNB Pro A.[6]

National team career

Velička debuted for the junior national team of Lithuania in the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.4 assists per 22.7 minutes of action. His team won silver medals.[7] He was selected to the All-Tournament Team.[8] After leading his Lithuanian Under-17 team to bronze medals in 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, he was named to the All-Tournament Team, averaging 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and a tournament high 4.7 assists per game.[9] Velička was also invited to the one year older U18 National Team to compete in the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He not only was one of the silver medals winning national team leaders with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 5.7 assists, but also was the whole tournament leader in assists. His most famous play was performed versus the Russian U18 National Team during the quarter-final when he hit lethal three-points buzzer-beater to lead his team to a remarkable 82–81 victory.[10] It was named as the top play of the tournament.[11]

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References
  1. "Arnas Velička". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. García-Muñoz, Sergio (3 July 2016). "El Barça ficha al base lituano junior Velicka, bronce en el Mundial Sub-17. Así juega (Vídeo)". Gigantes del Basket (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. "Perspektyviausiam Lietuvos įžaidėjui – NBA specialistų įvertinimas". 24sek.lt. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. "Ekipą papildė A.Velička". www.kklietkabelis.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  5. "A.Velička: "Esu laimingas, kad "Žalgiris" manimi pasitikėjo" (VIDEO)". zalgiris.lt (in Lithuanian). 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. "Chalons-Reims ink Arnas Velicka". Sportando. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. "Bosnių lyderių nesulaikę Lietuvos šešiolikmečiai iškovojo sidabrą (2 video, foto, komentaras)". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 16 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  8. "Velička – simboliniame geriausių žaidėjų penketuke". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 16 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  9. "Sexton takes 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship MVP honours, tops All-Star Five". FIBA.com. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  10. "Stebuklingas metimas: Arnas Velička paskandino Rusiją ir atvedė Lietuvą į pusfinalį". 24sek.lt (in Lithuanian). 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  11. "Veličkos dūris rusams – gražiausias čempionato epizodas". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 24 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
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