Author: Boris Karebin

[BK-CENTRE is pleased to highlight another outstanding European talent making the transition to the highest level of American collegiate basketball.

Lithuanian guard Daniele Paunksnyte has officially joined the women’s basketball program at Boston College, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), one of the strongest and most competitive conferences in NCAA Division I basketball.

Paunksnyte arrives in the United States after establishing herself as one of the brightest young players in European basketball. Before enrolling at Boston College, she competed for Kibirkštis Vilnius and represented Lithuania on the international stage. During her youth national team career, she averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while playing for Lithuania’s U20 National Team.

Her breakthrough came at the 2025 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket, where she averaged 17.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Paunksnyte finished among the tournament’s leading scorers and helped Lithuania capture its first-ever medal in U20 Women’s EuroBasket history, earning a silver medal. She was also selected to the tournament’s All-Star Five.

One of the most memorable moments of the championship was her historic 43-point performance against Israel, the highest single-game scoring total in FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket history.

In addition to her success at the youth level, Paunksnyte has already represented the Lithuanian Senior National Team in FIBA Women’s EuroBasket qualifiers, demonstrating her readiness to compete against elite international competition.

At Boston College, Paunksnyte will have the opportunity to compete in the ACC against some of the top programs and future professional players in the United States. The conference is widely recognized as one of the premier destinations for women’s college basketball and provides an excellent platform for athletes aspiring to play professionally and represent their national teams at the highest level.

The addition of Daniele Paunksnyte is another example of how European talent continues to make a significant impact in NCAA basketball. Her skill set, international experience, and competitive mentality make her one of the most exciting young Lithuanian prospects to watch in the coming years.

BK-CENTRE congratulates Daniele Paunksnyte on this important step in her basketball career and wishes her continued success with Boston College and the Lithuanian National Team.

Following a highly successful 2025/26 season, during which Santa Ozola helped TTT Juniores earn a bronze medal in the Latvian Women’s Basketball League and a silver medal in Division B of the Women’s Baltic Basketball League (WBBL), she has been selected to the preliminary roster of Latvia’s U18 Women’s National Team, which includes 18 players.

Santa also enjoyed success at the youth level, winning the Latvian Youth Basketball League U19 Championship with RBS “Centrs”, capturing the gold medal in the final tournament.

Latvia U18 will begin its preparation for the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship on June 11. Santa will need to perform well throughout the training camp and exhibition schedule in order to secure a place on the final 12-player roster.

As part of the preparation process, the team will participate in two international tournaments in China, scheduled for June 18–20 and June 23–25.

Training camp will resume in Latvia on June 29.

The team will then play a pair of friendly games against Israel in Riga on July 7 and 8, followed by two exhibition games against Germany in Berlin on July 13 and 14.

The final stage of preparation will include participation in the Baltic Cup in Lithuania from July 21–23, where Latvia will face Lithuania, Estonia, and Turkey.

We wish Santa the best of luck throughout the preparation process and hope to see her earn a place on Latvia’s final roster for the U18 Women’s European Championship.

6’0 forward Miriam Diala just finished her sophomore season and help lead the University of Toledo to the MAC conference championship game. The young forward was a starter for the Rockets and had 10 games finishing with double digit points. Miriam led Toledo in FG% for the season, finishing at 52.4% from the field.

In 2023, legendary basketball Coach Stefon Mienack reached out to Nate Altenhofen, current CEO of AbbA LLC and they discussed helping the young Diala find her next basketball home. Altenhofen immediately found Diala a home in the A10 at George Washington University. Then following her solid Freshman season, Miriam & Nate collaborated again in helping her transfer to the MAC conference.

Altenhofen and business partner Boris Karebin of BK Centre have had many discussions regarding Diala. ‘Miriam had a great season, her success should open some professional opportunities for her when she’s done at the NCAA level’

Miriam, a (7)-time National team member for European powerhouse Germany will be staying on the roster of the Toledo Rockets for 2026-2027 season.

Kyrylo committed to Lake Erie College men’s basketball competes in NCAA Division II and plays in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC).The Lake Erie Storm athletic programs (located in Painesville, Ohio) have been members of the G-MAC

Men’s Basketball Program Set to Play in Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic in 2026-27.

Kyrill Kapinos is a highly versatile all-around player who can successfully play multiple positions, from shooting guard to power forward. His mobility, basketball IQ, and ability to contribute in different areas of the game make him a valuable asset to any team. Before committing to the NCAA, Kyrill gained valuable experience competing at the junior college level in the United States.

“Kyrill and his father have been connected with us for many years,” said BK-CENTRE President Boris Karebin. “After being forced to leave Ukraine, Kyrill continued his basketball development with a youth team in Germany before moving to the United States to pursue his academic and athletic goals. We are very proud of his achievements and excited to see him continue his journey at the NCAA level.”

BK-CENTRE would also like to extend its sincere gratitude to Nate Altenhofen for his tremendous support and assistance throughout the recruiting process. His efforts played an important role in helping Kyrill find the right NCAA program and continue his development as a student-athlete.

BK-CENTRE proudly presents rising Ukrainian basketball prospect Uliana Sinuakova, (born 2013, height 183 cm) who delivered an outstanding performance in the French Regional Championship U13 Final.

Currently playing for Lyon in France, Uliana continues to establish herself as one of the most promising young players in her age group. In the championship game, she dominated the court, finishing with 19 points and 16 rebounds while helping lead her team to victory.

Her impact was evident throughout the game. Uliana scored 19 of her team’s 49 total points and controlled the action on both ends of the floor with her rebounding, defensive presence, and overall basketball instincts.

Despite competing against this opponent several times throughout the season, Uliana’s team suffered just one defeat. They had previously beaten the same team twice during the championship season, highlighting their consistency and strength throughout the year.

In addition to her success in 5-on-5 basketball, Uliana recently won the French Regional 3×3 Championship, demonstrating her ability to excel in different formats of the game.

Her continued development has attracted the attention of coaches, scouts, and basketball organizations. A future opportunity with the Ukrainian National Team, in both 3×3 and 5-on-5 basketball, could be on the horizon.

Uliana is also beginning to attract interest from top basketball programs in the United States, including elite high school programs as well as colleges and universities that closely monitor international talent.

Since coming onto the radar of the BK-CENTRE International Scouting Department, Uliana has significantly increased her opportunities to pursue basketball at the highest levels in both the United States and Europe. BK-CENTRE continues to closely monitor her development and support her long-term basketball goals.

BK-CENTRE President Boris Karebin commented on her recent achievements:

“We are following Uliana’s progress very closely and are excited about her future. She continues to improve and demonstrate the qualities necessary to compete at a high level. BK-CENTRE will do everything possible to help her pursue opportunities with the Ukrainian National Team and with top basketball programs in both the United States and Europe.”

With her recent performances, championship success in both 5-on-5 and 3×3 basketball, and continued development, Uliana Sinuakova is establishing herself as one of the most promising young basketball prospects in her generation.