League Pac-12 Conference College Utah (2014–present) Weight 112 kg Nationality Austrian Name Jakob Poltl Pro career 2006 | Listed height 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) Role Basketball Player Position Center, Power forward Listed weight 248 lb (112 kg) Height 2.13 m | |
 | ||
Born October 15, 1995 (age 28)
Vienna, Austria ( 1995-10-15 ) 2013–2014 Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions | ||
Der erste Österreicher in der NBA - Jakob Pöltl
Jakob Pöltl ( ['ja:kop 'pœltl]; born October 15, 1995) is an Austrian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Utah Utes. In his sophomore year, Pöltl was a consensus second-team All-American, and won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and Pete Newell Big Man Award as the top collegiate center and low-post player, respectively. After the season, he decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility, and Toronto selected him in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft with the ninth overall pick.
Contents
- Der erste sterreicher in der NBA Jakob Pltl
- Early life
- College recruitment
- College career
- Toronto Raptors 2016present
- References
Early life
Pöltl was born in Vienna. Both his parents were members of the Austrian national volleyball teams. His parents opted for basketball because there was a youth basketball program near their Vienna home during his childhood. He played one year for the Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions of the Austrian Bundesliga in 2013–14.
College recruitment
Pöltl was largely unknown in the United States until the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. University of Utah assistant Andy Hill went to the tournament, held in Macedonia, largely to scout potential prospects from other teams; he only saw Austria's opening game against the Netherlands because he vowed to watch all 38 teams in person. After seeing Pöltl's 15-rebound performance, Hill began sounding Pöltl out for potential interest in playing U.S. college basketball. Pöltl went on to average a double-double in points and rebounds during the tournament and was named to the second all-tournament team, despite Austria going 1–6 and finishing 20th out of 22 teams in the second-level Division B.
He then began drawing interest from several NCAA Division I programs, forcing him to decide between a professional career and a U.S. college education. In a 2014 interview, Pöltl revealed part of his decision-making process:
If I went pro in Europe, I probably wouldn't have a chance to go to a university and get my degree. . . . I could have basketball and an education at the same time [in the U.S.]. Also I think I wasn't ready for 100 percent professional basketball at that time.
In 2014, Pöltl committed to Utah to play college basketball. According to Yahoo! Sports writer Jeff Eisenberg, "the biggest reason Poeltl chose Utah was the relationship he had built with the Utes staff." Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak was one of three Division I head coaches and 2 assistant coaches to travel to Vienna to recruit him in person, and made the trip of over 5,000 miles (8,000 km) twice. Pöltl was impressed that Krystkowiak made the effort to visit with him in person, and Eisenberg added that Pöltl "also liked the idea of being coached by a 6-foot-9 former NBA forward with a history of developing young big men."
College career
Pöltl became a starter his first year and in his first game he scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds. During his second season in 2015-16, he was named to the 35-man midseason watchlist for the Naismith Trophy on February 11. On March 7, 2016, Pöltl was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and All-Pac-12 First Team. Following that, he was named the winner of both the Pete Newell Big Man Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.
On April 13, 2016, Pöltl declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.
Toronto Raptors (2016–present)
On June 23, 2016, Pöltl was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, becoming the first ever Austrian to be drafted. On July 9, 2016, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Raptors. He made his debut for the Raptors in their season opener on October 26, 2016, becoming the first Austrian to play in the NBA. He finished with two points in 12:47 of court time in a 109–91 win over the Detroit Pistons. On November 26, 2016, Pöltl was assigned to Raptors 905, Toronto's D-League affiliate. He was recalled the next day.