It will soon be decision time for Utah Big Man Jakob Poeltl. The 7 footer from Austria has wrapped up a successful first season in the United States playing college basketball. In a perfect world or even the good old days we would be having a discussion about where he will be playing next season. But college basketball is far from perfect and in 2015 a 7 foot freshman with a big upside has a decision to make regarding his immediate and long term future in professional basketball.
Jakob Poeltl averaged 9 points, nearly 7 rebounds and almost 2 blocks per game as a freshman for the Runnin Utes. Most draft projections, including this one tab him as as 1st round pick, where in the first round is what remains to be seen. He’s projected to be anywhere from late lottery to late 1st round by various NBA Draft Insiders.
The general rule of thumb is that if you are a lottery pick then you’ve got to go. But is that really the case with young/potential-filled big men? I think it’s the case with guards and wings, but a player like Poeltl might be a rare exception. Consider that he’s new to the country and culture, though he assimilated very well this year. Also, while very skilled, he still needs to get much stronger on the offensive end and around the rim. Is there any guarantee that he would stick out on a NBA roster as a rookie? Or might he end up riding the D-League Bus or bouncing back and forth for his first year or two?
Ultimately two questions must be answered: How important is the money now and how much would returning for another year of college basketball help his game and draft stock? Only one of those two questions has a definitive answer right now, the other is really dependent on Poeltl himself and the work that he would put in this offseason and into next season.
The good news for Jakob and his family is that he has until April 26th to weigh his options and a Head Coach in Larry Krystkowiak who has both played and coached in the NBA. Krystkowiak will be able to assist the Poeltl Family in wading though any and all of the information they need to make their decision.
The decision is big for both the future of Jakob Poeltl and the immediate future of the Utah Basketball Program. If Poeltl leaves for the Association, then Utah has a big hole to fill in the front court. If he returns they will likely be a preseason Top 25 Program and one of the Top 3 teams in the preseason Pac 12 Polls.
11 days and counting….
