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SALT LAKE CITY — As a then-18-year-old freshman embarking on his first experience playing American-style basketball, Jakob Poeltl was simply looking to have an impact on his new team when he joined the University of Utah basketball program.
With the physical nature and experienced play of senior Dallin Bachynski, Poeltl wanted to be a team player and an asset for the team for however long he was asked to play, particularly as a new player unsure about the needs of the team and where he hoped to fit in. But a starting role quickly came for Poeltl and became a permanent spot throughout the season — a role that has allowed Poeltl to quickly grow into a versatile and talented player.
In only a few months with the program, Poeltl now exudes confidence, the intangibles of a talented college basketball player and clear foresight for the future — for his team and for himself. As Utah’s starting center, Poeltl says he’s ready for any challenge on the court, knowing he's not outmatched by many in the conference.
His reservations about his strength being an issue against bigger, more experienced players at the beginning of the season are now gone and Poeltl is happy with the progress he’s made and the success the team has had this season.
Related:
Austrian Jakob Poeltl looking to fill big role for Runnin' Utes
Being the new guy is never easy. And it's often more difficult when you're 5,500 miles away from home and the environment you're used to is drastically different. But for freshman Jakob Poeltl, Utah has become home.“I think we’re having a really good season and I really can’t complain about anything right now,” Poeltl said. “I’m trying to play as many minutes as I can because that’s what comes if you play hard and if you give everything for the team.”
Although starting for a top 10 team in the country would be a dream for any freshman, Poeltl is more focused on the overall team objectives than his playing time.
“I think one of the greatest strengths for our team is that we have a lot of people that can play minutes and it doesn’t really matter who plays,” Poeltl said. “Right now I have two backups in Dallin Bachynski and Jeremy Olsen who could start at a lot of college basketball teams, so that makes us very versatile because we’re all different types of players and makes us very hard to guard. It give us a good advantage on defense, too.”
A mid-season ankle injury has limited the freshman some this season, and is something he continues to go to rehab to correct, but Poeltl said he feels pain free and is starting to expand his role on the team. On Sunday, Poeltl led the team in scoring with 18 points and added eight rebounds and two blocks in a 76-61 win over California. But his aggressive play lately, including a big dunk against Cal, is just one way the freshman is growing and taking the counsel of his coaches and teammates to heart.
“I think I’ve definitely acclimated,” he said. “It’s still not what I grew up with, obviously, but it’s not that different that I say that it’s still giving me trouble. I’m at a point right now where I’m used to (American basketball) and where it’s no problem for me anymore.”
Those last couple of games are really important. Obviously we're tied for first right now, so we're really trying to hold that. I just want to do everything I can to win those last couple of games to secure the championship; that would be really great and a good season.
–Jakob Poeltl
"Having him in our lineup provides us with a little bit of a rebounding punch defensively, and certainly a post presence and active big," head coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "I think his best basketball, hopefully, is ahead of him going down the stretch run with (six) remaining games."
Throughout the season, Poeltl has caught the eye of NBA scouts and national media types curious about the seven-footer from Austria. Recent NBA draft projections have him as a first round pick, with others as a potential lottery pick. Poeltl spoke candidly about his future as a potential NBA player, saying the idea of playing professionally after one year of college basketball has certainly crossed his mind this season.
“It obviously crosses my mind,” he said. “I think about it a little bit. But right now I’m really trying to focus on the ongoing season, especially cause it’s that important to my future, too. If I play this season well and finish it off strong, I feel like it would help me a lot for the future. The better I play, the better my situation is going to be in the next couple of years. I’m trying to focus on right now and the season to finish it off.”
Poeltl said he’s had a few brief conversations about it to his parents, but wants to “leave all that stuff for after the season that way I can really put all my focus on it and make a good decision for myself.”
For the time being, though, Poeltl is only focused on the goal he made before the season started: winning a Pac-12 championship.
“Those last couple of games are really important. Obviously we’re tied for first right now, so we’re really trying to hold that,” he said. “I just want to do everything I can to win those last couple of games to secure the championship; that would be really great and a good season.”
Beyond the Pac-12 tournament, Poeltl said he’d love to have a shot at playing against Kentucky in the NCAA tournament — a way to answer back for the 1998 championship game.
“I really don’t have a team I really hate that I want to beat so bad, but it would probably be cool to play against Kentucky because they’re ranked first and unbeaten. If we could play against Kentucky that would be a really cool game probably,” he said. “Obviously because Utah lost to them in the NCAA championship, that would be really great to get them back.”
