Lithuanian forward Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal last Tuesday, 24 hours after John Blackwell’s program-altering decision to also depart the Badgers. He’s the fourth Wisconsin player to do so this offseason.
Bieliauskas committed to Wisconsin a year ago, leaving the Lithuanian professional league for the Badgers. He started 28 games for Wisconsin as a true freshman, blossoming into a key rotational piece. He will now look to bring his valuable skillset that blends physicality and floor stretching to a new team.
Bieliauskas started his career playing for Zalgiris Kaunas II, the reserve team for the prestigious Lithuanian EuroLeague squad Zalgiris Kaunas. Bieliauskas averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, shooting an impressive 39.3% from 3-point range.
Bieliauskas played for the Lithuanian national team in the Under-20 EuroBasket tournament in summer 2025. He led his home country to an impressive second place finish, as he averaged 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds a game, shooting 51.7% from the field and 37.5% from 3. Bieliauskas led his team in scoring in the final against Italy with 17 points, displaying his ability to score in big pressure games.
Going into the 2025-26 season, Wisconsin knew they needed depth in the frontcourt with Steven Crowl graduating after five seasons with the Badgers. As a result, Wisconsin brought in Austin Rapp, a 6-foot-10 forward from Portland and Elijah Gray, a 6-foot-9 forward from Temple in the transfer portal.
It didn’t seem like Bieliauskas was going to play much as a freshman, but things quickly changed when Gray was dismissed from the program in October. This left Bieliauskas in prime position to earn a role in the frontcourt rotation. He began the first seven games of his career off the bench, but was inserted in the starting lineup for Wisconsin’s Big Ten opener against Northwestern after head coach Greg Gard decided to bench Rapp.
Bieliauskas made a strong impression in the starting lineup, as he remained a starter for the rest of the season. As is the case with many freshmen, Bieliauskas had ups and downs throughout the year but shined as a solid interior presence, defending well in the paint.
Bieliauskas also fit perfectly in Wisconsin’s offense, as his accuracy from beyond the arc helped Wisconsin lead the Big Ten in most 3-pointers attempted per game with 32.3.
Bieliauskas’ experience playing in Europe against professional competition was evident in his play. Playing with a level of physicality when he stepped on the floor, he managed to defend well against opposing Big Ten forwards who are known for their gritty play.
Bieliauskas’ breakout game came against Michigan when the Badgers took on the No. 1 team in the country on the road. Wisconsin were heavy underdogs going in, and Bieliauskas was going up against arguably the best frontcourt in the nation. Michigan’s bigs include three future NBA first round picks in Morez Johnson Jr, 7-foot-3 Aday Mara and Yaxel Lenderbog.
Bieliauskas did not hide away from the challenge and rose to the occasion, putting on a statement performance. He ended the game with 17 points, making five of his 10 3-point attempts to help the Badgers secure the 91-88 win.
The Lithuanian had a good rest of the regular season, helping Wisconsin finish fifth in the Big Ten. Bieliauskas rounded out the year averaging 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, shooting 43% from the field and 34.6% from 3.
Bieliauskas’ value became even more evident when starter Nolan Winter went down with an injury late in the regular season. He and Rapp stepped up in the frontcourt, helping Wisconsin advance to the semifinals of the tournament. Bieliauskas even earned the respect of Illinois’s head coach Brad Underwood after Wisconsin's overtime win against the Illini in the quarterfinal.
“They do a great job of their bigs. Bieliauskas especially. Bieliauskas is a hidden gem for them. He's very smart and sets ball screens, and he sets them at angles that force it that it's hard to go under. When they get in those middle ball screens, both of those guys are very effective," Underwood said after the game.
Wisconsin will now have to replace the to-be sophomore in what looks to be a busy offseason ahead for Gard.
