Latvijas Universitāte men's basketball

Latvijas Universitāte
NicknameLU
Studenti (Students)
LeaguesLatvian Basketball League
Latvian-Estonian Basketball League
Founded1929
ArenaOskara Kalpaka Rīgas Tautas daiļamatu pamatskola (school hall)
Capacity258
LocationRiga, Latvia
Team colorsBlue and White
   
PresidentKārlis Dārznieks
Head coachMarts Ozolinkēvičs
Championships7 Latvian Championship
Websitebk.lu.lv

The Latvijas Universitāte men's basketball team represents the University of Latvia in Riga, Latvia, also known as LU. and it plays in the Latvian Basketball League and Latvian-Estonian Basketball League.

History

The team is organized by the Universitātes Sports society, founded on 29 January 1929 under the auspices of the LU, and the LU Sports Center (LU Sporta centrs). The team used the Universitātes Sports name from 1929 until the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, and again shortly around 2014.[1][2]

The LU once won seven Latvian championships in the 1930s and returned to the Latvian League Division 1 before the 2010–11 season. The biggest accomplishment so far has been 4th place in the 2011–2012 season.

Youth side

A youth side of the team was formed together with the Riga Basketball School with the name of LU/BS Rīga, which last played in the second-division Ramirent Nacionālā basketbola līga (NBL, former LBL2) in the 2023/24 season.[3] In 2024, they were succeeded by Mārupes NSS/LU, as the university partnered up with the Mārupe Municipality Sports School.[4][5]

Season by season record

Season League Regional Latvian Cup Head coach
2024-25 Latvian League
Did not qualify
Latvian–Estonian League
15th place
Latvian Cup
Quarterfinals
Marts Ozolinkēvičs

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Latvijas Universitāte 2025-26 roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
PG 28 Neilands, Francis 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 20 – (2005-02-17)17 February 2005
PG 49 Bergmanis, Oto 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 18 – (2007-12-18)18 December 2007
SG 4 Short, Marlon Xavier 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 24 – (2001-04-27)27 April 2001
SG 8 Gludītis, Kristaps 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 30 – (1995-11-06)6 November 1995
SG 30 Kazāks, Artūrs 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 19 – (2005-12-28)28 December 2005
SG 7 Peiners, Timurs 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 67 kg (148 lb) 19 – (2006-11-12)12 November 2006
SF 11 Fox, Brody Clyde 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 23 – (2002-04-01)1 April 2002
PF 13 Donis, Rūdis 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 19 – (2006-11-12)12 November 2006
PF 24 Kaupmanis, Harijs 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 20 – (2005-02-19)19 February 2005
SF 10 Piternieks, Mārtiņš 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 19 – (2006-04-12)12 April 2006
C 13 Melikyan, Yura 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 20 – (2005-10-22)22 October 2005
C 9 Smirnovs, Daniils 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 22 – (2003-11-22)22 November 2003
Head coach
  • Marts Ozolinkēvičs
Assistant coach(es)
  • Krišjānis Pētersons
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Artūrs Paiķis
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Annija Sileniece

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Updated: December 10, 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Reserve
C Yura Melikyan Daniils Smirnovs
PF Rūdis Donis Harijs Kaupmanis
SF Brody Clyde Fox Mārtiņš Piternieks
SG Marlon Xavier Short Kristaps Gludītis Artūrs Kazāks
PG Francis Neilands Oto Bergmanis Timurs Peiners

Coaches

References

  1. ^ "Vēsture". www.bk.lu.lv. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  2. ^ Kresa-Katkovska, Inita (2014-04-12). "Vecākā sporta biedrība Latvijā «Universitātes Sports» svin 85. jubileju" [Universitātes Sports, the oldest sports society in Latvia, turns 85]. eng.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  3. ^ Caballero.lv. "Turnīra komandas". NBL (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  4. ^ "Basketbols Latvijas Universitātē". www.lu.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  5. ^ "BK Mārupe/LU komandas izveidošana ir... - Mārupes NSS Basketbols". Facebook. 2024-11-27.