YSU's Sulskis Signs to Play in Native Lithuania

INDIANAPOLIS -- Youngstown State's Vytas Sulskis, who cracked the 1,000-point mark in his senior year, has signed a professional contract with Zalgiris in his native Lithuania. Zalgiris will loan Sulskis out to Prienai.

Sulskis becomes the 12th player who competed in the Horizon League last year to reach the professional ranks; Matt Howard (Butler - Olympiacos), Shawn Vanzant (Butler - Korihait), Cooper Land (Wright State - Asker), Vaughn Duggins (Wright State - Walter Tigers Tubingen), N'Gai Evans (Wright State - F.F. Feni Industries), Cory Johnson (Valparaiso - WCAA Giants), Rahmon Fletcher (Green Bay - WCAA Giants), Robo Kreps (UIC - MIA Tblisi) and Paul Carter (UIC - Proteas Danoi) have all signed professional contracts to play in Europe beginning this fall. Both Norris Cole (Miami) and Shelvin Mack (Washington) were tabbed in the NBA Draft.

With 1,311 points in his career, Sulskis graduated as Youngstown State's 16th all-time leading scorer, collecting the Dom Rosselli Coaches Award as the Penguins' MVP in 2010-11. The Vilnius, Lithuania-native earned the program's Scholar-Athlete Award with a cumulative 3.26 grade-point average.

In a release from YSUSports.com, Sulskis said, "I am very happy that I made my dream come true to become a pro ball player. I want to thank my coaches who ever helped me to reach the place where I am now. Now I can represent the YSU Penguins in my homeland of Lithuania."

YSU Head Coach Jerry Slocum congratulated Sulskis, saying, "We are really happy for Vytas to be able to continue his basketball career in his home country. He meant a lot to our program. For him to graduate with his degree and pursue this professional opportunity means a great deal to us. We are all very proud of him."

Zalgiris captured the Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga (LKL) title a year ago, going 24-0 en route to the tournament championship.

(Information from YSUSports.com was used in this release.)