Norse MBB adds Pivorius to incoming freshman class for 2021-22 season

The Northern Kentucky Norse men’s basketball team brought in a sixth newcomer for the 2021-22 season, adding shooting guard Hubertas Pivorius to their incoming freshman class.

Hubertas Pivorius is officially a Norse! Welcome to NKU. ◼️??

?: https://t.co/IJKjS352mz#NorseUp pic.twitter.com/w3s0fhjWSp

— NKU Men’s Basketball (@NKUNorseMBB) July 19, 2021

A native of Vilnius, Lithuania, Pivorius has gained experience playing on several different levels of competition, including his time as a member of the Lithuanian U19 and U16 National Teams.

During his time spent with the Lithuania National Team at the U19 FIBA World Championships, Pivorius averaged 8.4 points, 2.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game, helping Lithuania place sixth among sixteen teams in the event that was eventually won by the United States with a win in the championship over France.

In addition to his international experience, Pivorius has experience playing on the US high school scene. During his senior season at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida, the sharpshooting guard averaged 18.0 points per game, while shooting over 40 percent from three-point range. On the season, Pivorius connected on 80 three-point shots.

Pivorius’ ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc will be a welcome sight for the Norse, as the team struggled to consistently shoot from three last season. Their 30.7 three-point shooting percentage ranked 306th out of 347 in Division I last season.

“He is a fierce competitor with high character who we are confident will continue to expand his game and grow as a player,” NKU head coach Darrin Horn said about Pivorius in a press release by NKU Athletics. 

Pivorius joins a now four-man freshman class for the Norse, featuring a pair of guards in Isaiah Mason from Bowling Green, Kentucky and Sam Vinson from Fort Thomas, Kentucky and nearby Highlands High School, as well as 7’0 center Imanuel Zorgvol, who hails from Paramaribo, Suriname.

In addition to a promising group of newcomers, the Norse also return 91 percent of its scoring from the 2020-21 team that advanced to the Horizon League Tournament semifinals before losing to Oakland.

The group of returners includes three players who averaged double-figures in scoring in 2020-21 in Trevon Faulkner (16.7 PPG), Marques Warrick (15.8 PPG) and Bryson Langdon (10.7). Both Faulkner and Warrick were recognized on the All-Horizon League second and third team respectively, and Warrick was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year.