As a newcomer, junior guard Rokas Zilys walked into Marist with his eyes wide open.
Zilys, however, is a savvy and tested player. He knows how to rely on his natural ability when the moment arises, helping him make a quick, seamless transition after being at Vermont Academy.
”It’s a big-time transfer,” said Zilys, who played at the prep school the last two seasons. “I definitely have to get used to the Marist way. I’m loving it so far because the team fits what I do best.
“I’m a shooter. I like finding the open man, and I’m a solid rebounder.”
All of those skills were on display Tuesday night as Zilys drilled two 3-pointers, scored 10 points and added five rebounds and four assists in a 72-29 nonconference victory over T.F. South.
Junior forward Karson Thomas scored a game-high 14 points for host Marist (5-0) in Chicago. Junior point guard TJ Tate added 11 points and junior guard Adoni Vassilakis had 10.
Senior forward Marquis Vance also had nine points as nine players scored points for the RedHawks. Senior forward Nick Ford led T.F. South (1-4) with 13 points.
A native of Naperville, Zilys joined his older brother, Mantas, to play in Vermont. Mantas was a two-year standout at Naperville Central who is now a freshman guard at Bentley in Boston.
“I took a lot of my game from my brother,” Rokas said. “He’s a very hard worker, and I looked up to him. When he was at Naperville Central, I saw how good he was and I wanted to be just like him.”
A desire to return home, and a childhood connection with Vassilakis, paved the way to Marist. Zilys had a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds Friday in a 53-50 victory over Perspectives-Leadership in the championship game of the Andrew/Lincoln-Way Central Tournament.
The 6-foot-2 Zilys is another high-end option for the RedHawks, providing perimeter skills to play on the wing and the strength and toughness to play closer to the basket.
“We played on a travel team in the first grade,” Vassilikas said of Rokas. “I told him we had a great chemistry here, and it was a perfect chance to run it back.
“He brings great shooting and he opens up the floor. He has a great all-around game. If I’m ever doubled, I know to look for him.”
Marist coach Brian Hynes knew about the family from Gene Nolan, Marist’s former coach who now heads up Naperville North’s program.
“He has acclimated so well because of the kind of kid he is,” Hynes said of Zilys. “He was friends with Adoni, and he’d come around and shoot here.
“We always knew he could shoot it, but he is so strong. With our two injuries to our big kids, he has been our best rebounder.”
At Vermont Academy, Zilys dealt with isolation and being far from his family. The basketball equation was beneficial, though, to his growth and development.
“It was basically a 24-hour gym,” he said. “I trained without any distractions and got a lot better. My brother and I lived in a dorm. The basketball was really good, and I just kept my mind to it.
“It was boring living there sometimes, and I missed my parents and my friends.”
Both of his parents are natives of Lithuania. Mantas Zilys spent time with Lithuania’s U-18 national team when he was at Naperville Central.
Off the court, Rokas has a fondness for playing golf and video games. Although quieter than his older his brother, he plays with a similar intensity.
“I’ve developed this confidence over time, especially working with my brother,” he said. “The most important thing is I want to be a good teammate. I like hitting threes and scoring points.
“But I really love diving on the floor for loose balls or getting rebounds. That’s my real love.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
