Over the years, overseas prospects have been looked at differently. The main difference abroad is that players get professional basketball experience early. We saw it with Luka, we saw it with Wemby, and now we’re seeing it with Justė Jocytė. The six-foot-two combo guard from Lithuania got selected by the Golden State Valkyries as the fifth overall pick!

Jocytė has been playing professional ball, ASVEL Lyon in France, since she was 14 years old, becoming the youngest player in EuroLeague women’s history. She can really shoot the ball, and knows how to use her physique to her advantage. But have there been factors shaping her journey throughout?

What is Justė Jocytė’s ethnic background?

Justė Jocytė’s ethnicity is slightly complicated. The six-foot-two Valkyries star is of Lithuanian descent as both of her parents are Lithuanian. However, she was born in America, namely, Washington D.C. But she grew up in Lithuania, turning pro at a young age and leading her national team to a rare EuroBasket final berth.

Her slow, personalized tempo on which the fifth overall pick dribbles is reminiscent of other international talents we’ve seen. For example, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic both aren’t quite athletic, but can use their size and strengths to their advantage on the court. This is commonplace with foreign professional athletes, and we can see it in Jocytė’s style of play.

But what about religion? What religion does the Lithuanian superstar believe in?

What religion does Justė Jocytė practice?

Unfortunately, many stars are cagey about their religious beliefs and ideologies, and Jocytė is one of them! There is no publicly available information about the religion that she practices, or the pantheon that she believes in.

However, given her Lithuanian heritage, she may follow the predominant religion in Lithuania, which is Roman Catholicism. But this is speculation until confirmed by Jocytė herself. Until then, there is no certainty about her religious practices at all. But what about her ethnic background–does it interfere with her playing career?

How does Justė Jocytė’s ethnicity influence her basketball career

Justė Jocytė has definitely let her game by influenced by her ethnic background. We’ve already discussed the slow tempo and pace that is a European trademark, but to what extent do her Lithuanian roots extend? Well, that’s not a simple question. The one thing we know for sure? Justė Jocytė, the six-foot-two guard, is proud to rep her Lithuanian heritage on the international stage.

Jocytė was only 13 when she debuted for the Lithuanian national team, and has been to various FIBA age-group games. Her loyalty towards her country goes deep, as just a few days before the WNBA draft, she had this to say. “If the WNBA told me I couldn’t leave and had to choose, I’d undoubtedly pick the national team.” The Valks star said about her priorities ahead of the FIBA Eurobasket finals.

She was a pick that completely blindsided the entire WNBA fandom, and people still don’t know what to make of her. It will be interesting to see whether Lithuania’s basketball culture will lead to a new star for the W.