2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster
Petraitis, Rytis
Jersey Number 31
Rytis Petraitis
- Height:
- 6-7
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Arlington, TX
- High School:
- The Oak Ridge School
- Position:
- Forward
Bio
- Second triple-double in Air Force history on Jan. 23, 2024 at UNLV (18 pts, 13 reb, 11 assists).
- 6x MW Freshman of the Week in 2022-23.
- Air Force freshman record holder for most free throws attempted and made (113-161).
- Mountain West record for free throws attempted in MW play with 104.
- 317 points is most by an Air Force freshman in MW era and second all-time.
2023-24 (Sophomore):
- Played in 24 games, making 20 starts. Missed first 7 games recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
- Led team in several categories: 15.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.7 apg.
- MW Top 10 in assists (8th), steals (4th, 1.58), FG% (7th, 48.5) & blocks (10th, 0.92).
- vs. UNLV: 2nd ever triple double in program history with 18 pts, 13 reb, 11 assists. Added 2 steals and career-high 3 blocks in 38 mins.
- vs. CSU: Career-high 27 pts, adding 8 reb, 4 assists, 3 steals in 37 mins.
- vs. UNM: Double-doubles with 26 pts, 10 reb at MW tourney.
- vs. Boise: 19 pts, 9 reb, 3 assists in 39 mins.
- vs. UNM: Game-winning basket w/7 seconds left. 13 pts, 1 steal, 1 block
- vs. SJ: Career-high 26 pts. 13-18 FTH. Most FTH att in a MW game in AF history.
- vs. FS: Double-double with 14 pts, 11 reb, 5 assists, 5 steals in 40 mins.
- vs. UNM: 18 pts, 9 free throw attempts, 2 steals in 37 mins.
- vs. CSU: Tied then career-high with 22 pts, adding 7 reb, 5 assts, 9 fouls drawn.
- vs. Portland: Game-high 20 pts in 21 mins; 5 reb, 3 steals
- vs. South Dakota: season debut with game-high 18 pts, adding 6 reb, 3 steals.
2022-23 (Freshman):
- Bob Beckel team MVP.
- MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 12)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 19)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 26)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Jan. 2)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Jan. 23)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Feb. 20)
- Air Force Athletics Athlete of the Week (Jan.2)
- Top scoring freshman in MW. 317 pts is 2nd most ever by an AF freshman.
- MW freshman record 104 free throw attemps in MW play.
- AF frosh records for FT makes and attempts (113-161).
- 6x MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 12, 19, 26, Jan. 2, Jan. 23, Feb. 20).
- 106 for 153 from line, with both totals being school freshman records.
- 2nd on team with 10.4 ppg and led team with 6.2 rpg.
- 2nd on team with 11.4 ppg and 1st with 6.5 rpg in MW games.
- Had 6 double-doubles on the season, the most by a MW freshman.
- 4th double-double with 19 pts, 11 reb at #25 New Mexico.
- 3rd double-double with 18 pts, 13 reb in 45 mins in first-career start vs. CSU.
- 12 pts, 7 reb vs. Northern Colorado. Scored go-ahead bucket off a steal with 46 seconds left in game.
- 22 pts on 6 of 8 shooting, 8 of 13 from line vs. Portland St.
- Double-double with 11 pts, 10 reb in 20 mins off bench vs. TAMUC.
Before Air Force
Attended USAFA Prep School in 2021-22 as was on the basketball team … all-time leading scorer at The Oakridge School with 2,023 career points … averaged 27.7 points per game as senior in 2020-21 … helped lead the Owls to the SPC North Zone state title as a senior … team MVP all four years … also ran cross country as a freshman and also played baseball … high school basketball coach was Andre Walker … National Honor Society member and graduated with 4.2 GPA … played AAU ball for Texas Impact and was coached by TJ Thomas.
Personal
Member of cadet squadron 13 … son of Ramas and Reda Petraitis … has a younger brother, Remis … both of his parents played basketball at Oregon State … considering operations research major … Why I decided to come to the Academy: “To play basketball and earn a top-notch education.” … hobbies are playing baseball, watching football and basketball and watching movies … credits his father as having the biggest influence on his sports career … something most people don’t know about him is that he can speak Lithuanian.
- 6x MW Freshman of the Week in 2022-23.
- Air Force freshman record holder for most free throws attempted and made (113-161).
- Mountain West record for free throws attempted in MW play with 104.
- 317 points is most by an Air Force freshman in MW era and second all-time.
2023-24 (Sophomore):
- Played in 24 games, making 20 starts. Missed first 7 games recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
- Led team in several categories: 15.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.7 apg.
- MW Top 10 in assists (8th), steals (4th, 1.58), FG% (7th, 48.5) & blocks (10th, 0.92).
- vs. UNLV: 2nd ever triple double in program history with 18 pts, 13 reb, 11 assists. Added 2 steals and career-high 3 blocks in 38 mins.
- vs. CSU: Career-high 27 pts, adding 8 reb, 4 assists, 3 steals in 37 mins.
- vs. UNM: Double-doubles with 26 pts, 10 reb at MW tourney.
- vs. Boise: 19 pts, 9 reb, 3 assists in 39 mins.
- vs. UNM: Game-winning basket w/7 seconds left. 13 pts, 1 steal, 1 block
- vs. SJ: Career-high 26 pts. 13-18 FTH. Most FTH att in a MW game in AF history.
- vs. FS: Double-double with 14 pts, 11 reb, 5 assists, 5 steals in 40 mins.
- vs. UNM: 18 pts, 9 free throw attempts, 2 steals in 37 mins.
- vs. CSU: Tied then career-high with 22 pts, adding 7 reb, 5 assts, 9 fouls drawn.
- vs. Portland: Game-high 20 pts in 21 mins; 5 reb, 3 steals
- vs. South Dakota: season debut with game-high 18 pts, adding 6 reb, 3 steals.
2022-23 (Freshman):
- Bob Beckel team MVP.
- MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 12)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 19)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 26)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Jan. 2)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Jan. 23)
- MW Freshman of the Week (Feb. 20)
- Air Force Athletics Athlete of the Week (Jan.2)
- Top scoring freshman in MW. 317 pts is 2nd most ever by an AF freshman.
- MW freshman record 104 free throw attemps in MW play.
- AF frosh records for FT makes and attempts (113-161).
- 6x MW Freshman of the Week (Dec. 12, 19, 26, Jan. 2, Jan. 23, Feb. 20).
- 106 for 153 from line, with both totals being school freshman records.
- 2nd on team with 10.4 ppg and led team with 6.2 rpg.
- 2nd on team with 11.4 ppg and 1st with 6.5 rpg in MW games.
- Had 6 double-doubles on the season, the most by a MW freshman.
- 4th double-double with 19 pts, 11 reb at #25 New Mexico.
- 3rd double-double with 18 pts, 13 reb in 45 mins in first-career start vs. CSU.
- 12 pts, 7 reb vs. Northern Colorado. Scored go-ahead bucket off a steal with 46 seconds left in game.
- 22 pts on 6 of 8 shooting, 8 of 13 from line vs. Portland St.
- Double-double with 11 pts, 10 reb in 20 mins off bench vs. TAMUC.
Before Air Force
Attended USAFA Prep School in 2021-22 as was on the basketball team … all-time leading scorer at The Oakridge School with 2,023 career points … averaged 27.7 points per game as senior in 2020-21 … helped lead the Owls to the SPC North Zone state title as a senior … team MVP all four years … also ran cross country as a freshman and also played baseball … high school basketball coach was Andre Walker … National Honor Society member and graduated with 4.2 GPA … played AAU ball for Texas Impact and was coached by TJ Thomas.
Personal
Member of cadet squadron 13 … son of Ramas and Reda Petraitis … has a younger brother, Remis … both of his parents played basketball at Oregon State … considering operations research major … Why I decided to come to the Academy: “To play basketball and earn a top-notch education.” … hobbies are playing baseball, watching football and basketball and watching movies … credits his father as having the biggest influence on his sports career … something most people don’t know about him is that he can speak Lithuanian.
2025 Graduation Recap
Monday, June 02
Joe Scott and Player POST Boise State March 4, 2025
Tuesday, March 04
Air Force falls to Boise State
Tuesday, March 04
Joe Scott and Player POST CSU
Tuesday, February 25
