Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
MBB | Paulius Murauskas Named Finalist for the Riley Wallace Most Impactful Transfer Award
3/12/2025 3:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. — As just announced by collegeinsider.com, Gaels sophomore forward and 2025 WCC Newcomer of the Year Paulius Murauskas has been named a finalist for the 2024-25 Riley Wallace Award. The Riley Wallace Award is presented annually to the most impactful transfer in division I college basketball, and is named for former Hawaii Head Coach Riley Wallace, who welcomed many transfers to his Warrior squad while becoming the program's all-time wins leader.
A transfer from the University of Arizona, Murauskas started every game for the Gaels at the four. The Kaunas, Lithuania native led the WCC in rebounding and double-doubles. His 13 double-doubles are the most in Gaels history since Jock Landale's legendary senior campaign in which he tallied 19, and ranks 18th in the country. He became the first Gael in three seasons to score 30 in a single contest, doing so against Washington State on Saint Mary's inaugural Lithuania Night, honoring the home country of Murauskas, teammate Augustas Marciulionis and Graduate Assistant Taut Tubelis. Murauskas was the first transfer to be an every day starter for Coach Randy Bennett in his first season with the program since Malik Fitts in the 2018-19 campaign.
Here is the complete list of finalists for this award:
The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.
#GaelsRise
A transfer from the University of Arizona, Murauskas started every game for the Gaels at the four. The Kaunas, Lithuania native led the WCC in rebounding and double-doubles. His 13 double-doubles are the most in Gaels history since Jock Landale's legendary senior campaign in which he tallied 19, and ranks 18th in the country. He became the first Gael in three seasons to score 30 in a single contest, doing so against Washington State on Saint Mary's inaugural Lithuania Night, honoring the home country of Murauskas, teammate Augustas Marciulionis and Graduate Assistant Taut Tubelis. Murauskas was the first transfer to be an every day starter for Coach Randy Bennett in his first season with the program since Malik Fitts in the 2018-19 campaign.
Here is the complete list of finalists for this award:
| Miles Barnstable | 6-2 | Jr. | St. Thomas |
| Oscar Cluff | 6-11 | Sr. | South Dakota State |
| Ryan Conwell | 6-4 | Jr. | Xavier |
| Dylan Darling | 6-1 | So. | Idaho State |
| Mark Freeman | 5-11 | Sr. | James Madison |
| Ja'Kobi Gillespie | 6-1 | Jr. | Maryland |
| PJ Haggerty | 6-3 | So. | Memphis |
| Devin Haid | 6-5 | Jr. | Connecticut |
| Chucky Hepburn | 6-2 | Sr. | Louisville |
| Joshua Jefferson | 6-9 | Jr. | Iowa State |
| Chaz Lanier | 6-5 | Sr. | Tennessee |
| Alijah Martin | 6-2 | Sr. | Florida |
| Mark Mitchell | 6-9 | Jr. | Missouri |
| Jacksen Moni | 6-10 | Sr. | North Dakota State |
| Brian Moore Jr. | 6-2 | Sr. | Norfolk State |
| Malik Moore | 6-5 | Jr. | Montana |
| Paulius Murauskas | 6-8 | So. | Saint Mary's |
| Dominick Nelson | 6-5 | Jr. | Utah Valley |
| Otega Oweh | 6-4 | Jr. | Kentucky |
| Sean Pedulla | 6-1 | Sr. | Ole Miss |
| Kadary Richmond | 6-6 | Sr. | St. John's |
| Javon Small | 6-3 | Sr. | West Virginia |
| Jamichael Stillwell | 6-8 | Jr. | Milwaukee |
| Bennett Stirtz | 6-4 | Jr. | Drake |
| John Tonje | 6-5 | Sr. | Wisconsin |
| JT Toppin | 6-9 | So. | Texas Tech |
| Milos Uzan | 6-4 | Jr. | Houston |
| Teddy Washington Jr. | 6-2 | Sr. | Southeast Missouri State |
| Danny Wolf | 7-0 | Jr. | Michigan |
| Kam Woods | 6-2 | Sr. | Robert Morris |
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Highlights vs. Vanderbilt, 11-28-25
Friday, November 28
MBB | Randy Bennett Postgame vs. Vanderbilt, 11-28-25, Presented by University Credit Union
Friday, November 28
MBB | Highlights vs. Virginia Tech, 11-27-25
Thursday, November 27
MBB | Randy Bennett and Andrew McKeever Postgame vs. Virginia Tech, 11-27-25, presented by University Credit Union
Thursday, November 27
