Padegimas visited Dayton the weekend of June 17. He visited Brigham Young earlier in the week. He then visited Boston College last week. After each visit, he shared photos of Instagram of himself in the uniform of each team.
Padegimas signed a letter of intent with Central Florida in November but decommitted from Central Florida on May 26.
In February, UCF coach Johnny Dawkins talked to Rivals.com about Padegimas.
“Petras brings us another versatile player,” Dawkins said. “He’s 6-8 and he’s about 225, 230 walking in the door to college. I think in the league where we’re headed, in that type of environment, he’s like the other two players (UCF signed) in that physically they’re almost ready (for the Big 12). He brings that physicality. He’s explosive and athletic around the rim. He’s a capable shooter on the perimeter. He plays extremely hard and he’s a gym rat. He works at it and wants to be really good.”
Padegimas played last season for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla. He averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds. He played for Lithuania in the FIBA U-17 World Cup last year in Malaga, Spain, averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Padegimas received offers from Florida Atlanta, Utah State, High Point and Loyola Marymount before committing to Central Florida.
Padegimas joins these newcomers, all of whom are now on campus, in Dayton’s 2023 class:
• Nate Santos, a 6-7 forward who played the last two seasons at Pittsburgh, committed to Dayton on June 13.
• Marvel Allen, a 6-foot-4 guard from Montverde Academy and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., committed to Dayton on May 8.
• Isaac Jack, a 6-11 center, committed to Dayton on April 24 after one season at Buffalo.
• Javon Bennett, a 5-11 guard, committed to Dayton on April 10 after one season at Merrimack.
• Enoch Cheeks, a 6-3 guard who played the last three seasons at Robert Morris University, committed to Dayton on March 30.
• Vasilije Erceg, a 6-foot-10 forward from Novi Sad, Serbia, committed to Dayton on March 24.
• Jaiun Simon, a 6-7 forward from Mableton, Ga., committed to Dayton on Oct. 28 and signed in November.
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