The latest Northern Kentucky men's basketball signee is officially official as Norse head coach Darrin Horn has announced the addition of big man Paulius Rapolis to the roster for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.

Rapolis makes his way to Highland Heights by way of Lithuanian and the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The 7-foot, 230-pound center is now easily the largest member of the Norse and will look to pair with returning standout Keeyan Itejere to give NKU a formidable one-two punch from the five.

"Paulius is an excellent addition to our front court," Horn said. "At seven feet tall, he brings great size, but he is an excellent mover with outstanding basketball IQ and good skill."

"We believe he is a terrific fit in our new offensive system that utilizes bigs inside and out," Horn added. "He has been well coached at IMG by a seasoned NCAA Division I coach in Jimmy Carr and most exciting, his best basketball is ahead of him."

This past season for IMG Academy, Rapolis averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and 70 percent from the charity stripe. In March, Rapolis represented IMG Academy on the IMG Post-Grad National Team at the Phenom Prep and Post-Grad Nationals in South Carolina, where he was named a Player to Watch

On3 Elite scouting lists Rapolis as a 3-star prospect, the No. 20-rated prep player in Florida and the No. 26-rated center in the nation.

To go with his success at IMG, Rapolis brings a wealth of international experience as he has played in both the Lithuania U18 League (Sostines KM 1) and Junior League (BC Rytas). He also competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which was hosted in Spain in 2022.