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Wayne State University Athletics

2026-27 MBB Signee Rudis Donis

Men's Basketball Cooper Weidenthaler, Assistant Director for Media Relations

Men's Basketball Signs Latvia Native Rudis Donis

Donis joins a signing class already composed of eight newcomers.

DETROIT -- Head coach Bryan Smothers and the Wayne State University men's basketball program have announced the ninth addition to their 2026-27 roster.  That addition comes in the form of Latvian freshman Rudis Donis.

Rudis Donis, F, 6-7, 207, Talsi, Latvia / Ventspils State Gymnasium No. 1 (Latvijas Universitate)
High School:  A 2025 graduate of Ventspils Valsts 1. gimnazija (Ventspils State Gymnasium No. 1) ... played for the Latvijas Universitate and coach Janis Zemels ... averaged 9.4 points (178 points) and 5.1 rebounds (96 boards) per game during the 2025-26 season in the Latvian Estonian Basketball League ... scored a season-high 14 points in a road loss against Transcom Pärnu ... grabbed a season-best 10 rebounds at Viimsi ... reached double figures in scoring in 10 of the 19 contests last season ... spent the three previous seasons with BK Ventspils ... played for the U16 Latvia team at the European Championships in 2022-23 and the U18 team in 2024-25 ... grabbed 10 rebounds to go with 10 points in a U16 loss to Italy in 2022 ... notched five steals in a win over Serbia in 2022.

Personal:  Full name -- Rudis Donis ... born on November 12, 2006, in Talsi, Latvia ... son of Ingus and Ilze Donis ... has an older brother, Toms, and an older sister, Eva ... plans to major in Finance.

Coaching Staff on Rudis Donis:  "We searched all over the world for the right fit for our last spot and through different connections, we discovered Rudis and made an instant bond.  Rudis will come to us with years of international playing experience which makes him an interesting addition as a freshman.  He has the size and versatility that we were looking for and his skill set will fit well within our system.  This July, he will be participating with the Latvian U20 National team and we look forward to watching him compete before he reports to campus for the school year."


 
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