Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul took the next step in re-shaping its team for new head coach Igor Kokoskov for the up-coming season in signing Edgaras Ulanovas to a two-year contract, the club announced Thursday. Ulanovas (1.99 meters, 28 years old) comes to Fenerbahce from Zalgiris Kaunas, where he played the last six seasons. He averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 28 EuroLeague games last season. Ulanovas helped Zalgiris reach the EuroLeague Final Four in 2018 and the playoffs in 2019. In 175 EuroLeague career games with Zalgiris, Ulanovas amassed 1,253 points (7.2 ppg.) and 620 rebounds (3.5 rpg.). He led Zalgiris to six consecutive Lithuanian League titles from 2015 to 2020 and lifted the Lithuanian Cup trophy four times (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020).
After signing Kokoskov as the replacement for star head coach Zeljko Obadovic, Fenerbahce's first move entering the new era was bringing in Dyshawn Pierre. Ulanovas is the second addition and this will be the first time that he will be playing for a club outside of his native Lithuania. In addition to Zalgiris, Ulanovas also played for Aisciai Kauno, Triobet Malsta Jonavos, Zalgiris-Sabonio mokykla Kaunas, Baltai Kaunas, Pieno Zvaigzdes Pasvalys and Neptunas Klaipeda. He is a standing member of the Lithuanian senior national team. But Ulanovas also holds an illustrious mark in youth basketball as he won all four gold medals internationally for his generation: FIBA U16 European Championship 2008, the FIBA U18 European Championship 2010, the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2011 and the FIBA U20 European Championship 2012.