This American is already familiar to Vilnius basketball fans from their head-to-head battles on the court. Representing Emilia Reggio’s “Reggiana” club, C. Winston scored 26 points (his personal tournament record) in the 2024–2025 FIBA Champions League game in Vilnius against “Rytas,” grabbed 4 rebounds, and made 6 assists.
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Last season, 2025–2026, the guard played for Jerusalem’s “Hapoel” team. In the European Cup (“EuroCup”) tournament, the basketball player averaged 15.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. In the Israeli championship, his stats over an average of 20 minutes per game were 13.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
“I chose ‘Rytas’ because I felt it was a great organization and a great place for me to continue growing as a player and to make a positive impact on the team. A couple of seasons ago, I played against ‘Rytas’ and I clearly remember the fans were just crazy, the atmosphere was insanely fun, and the arena itself was very beautiful and spacious. It was clear that the fans were ready to strongly support their team, and I definitely wanted to be part of that,” said Vilnius “Rytas” newcomer Cassius Winston. “Playing in front of such a fan base means a lot to me, and I know they will stand behind us as we try to make this season special. The team and fans can expect that every night on the court I will give my all to help win games, push myself and the team forward, and help others improve. I can’t wait to show what I can do on the court.”
Before moving to Israel, the basketball player played in Italy. Wearing “Reggiana” jerseys in the local “Serie A” league, he played 32 games, averaging 15.9 points and 5.1 assists.
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C. Winston began his professional career in Europe in the 2022–2023 season when he joined the Munich “Bayern” team. With them, the American won the German Cup and debuted in the EuroLeague. Later, in the 2023–2024 season, his stop was Turkey, where, representing Bursa’s “Tofaş” team, the guard averaged 14.8 points and 5.3 assists in the local championships.
“Cassius’s arrival will bring both experience and leadership to the overall team picture, both on and off the court. He is a player who will bring the ability to score himself and also involve his teammates in the game. I believe his profile and playing style will fit perfectly with the current team composition,” said “Rytas” head coach Ned Pacevičius.
During his studies in the USA, C. Winston played for Michigan State University. Representing this team, the point guard became the university’s all-time leader in assists (890 assists), and in 2019 he was recognized as the best player of the “Big Ten” conference. After graduating, the guard moved to the NBA – in the 2020 draft, he was selected 53rd by the Oklahoma “Thunder” club. Later, the guard spent two years in the Washington “Wizards” system, playing 29 NBA regular-season games.
