Valmiera Glass signs 18-year-old guard Ralfs Murnieks for 2026-27 season

# What happened Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola, the defending Latvian champion, agreed terms with 18-year-old guard Ralfs Murnieks for the 2026-27 season. The club added Murnieks to a backcourt that already includes several new and returning guards.

# Who Murnieks is Murnieks is a 186 cm guard born in 2008. He played last season for Bertanu in the RNBL, where he stood out as the team's best passer. Across 20 games he posted 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Those numbers helped Bertanu finish the regular season in second place and reach the Latvian U19 League final.

He is also a member of the Latvian Under-18 national team and has experience with multiple youth programs: Ekselences, BVBS Valmeira U17, and Bertanu Valmieras BS 2nd team.

# Glass gains Valmiera Glass brings in a young playmaker who demonstrated scoring and facilitating ability at RNBL level and international youth camps. His assist rate and steal numbers suggest playmaking and defensive activity on the perimeter. As a developing guard, he offers depth and a youth pipeline option amid a roster mixing experienced imports and local players.

The club's announced guard group for 2026-27 now includes Marcis Vitols, Bryce McBride, Darren Williams, Aminu Mohammed, Jake Heidbreder and Ralfs Murnieks. That mix pairs veterans and overseas signings with Murnieks' youth and national-team background.

# What this likely means for the season Expect Murnieks to be used in rotation minutes early on, particularly in spot roles that leverage his passing and on-ball defense. The move signals Valmiera Glass' approach to blend immediate competitiveness with youth development: he can provide floor spacing, secondary ball-handling and fresh legs in guard rotations while gaining experience at top domestic level.

For Murnieks, joining the defending champion creates a higher-standard training and game environment, with greater exposure in the Latvian Basketball League and regional competition. That should accelerate his development if he earns meaningful minutes.

# Quick facts

• Player: Ralfs Murnieks
• Position/Size: Guard, 186 cm
• Age: 18 (born 2008)
• 2025-26 RNBL (Bertanu): 20 games — 15.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.0 SPG
• National team: Latvia Under-18

• Valmiera Glass 2026-27 guard list: Marcis Vitols, Bryce McBride, Darren Williams, Aminu Mohammed, Jake Heidbreder, Ralfs Murnieks

# Bottom line