This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
His talent is undeniable.
When Jakob Poeltl gets the ball in the low post, the result is usually a basket for the University of Utah, or a couple of free throws.
When there's a missed shot, it's usually the 7-foot freshman center corralling the rebound for the Utes. You want rim protection? Poeltl's long arms are capable of providing it.
And if you add it all up into a neat little collegiate debut package, you can make an argument that Poeltl was Utah's most efficient player in Friday night's 90-72 opening win over Ball State.
Poeltl recorded a double-double in his first college basketball game, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. He was a force in the paint, got to the foul line 16 times and was a chief source of Ball State's ongoing foul issues.
"I was nervous out there," Poeltl said. "I felt good out there, and I felt like I could make a contribution. My teammates did a good job in getting me the ball, and I was happy to contribute."
It's a testament to his potential that Poeltl has instantly been put into Larry Krystkowiak's starting lineup. And he wasted very little time showing why, scoring 8 points in the first four minutes of the game.
Poeltl, a native of Austria, is unique for a big man. He's good with his back to the basket, yet athletic enough to get out on the fast break and score easy baskets. Twice against the Cardinals, Poeltl followed up transition misses by his teammates for lay-ins. He took up space defensively and was the one player other than Delon Wright for whom Ball State had no answer.
"He's a load inside," Krystkowiak said. "To have that kind of balance, to where you can throw the ball inside, is a big thing. When that happens, things open up perimeter-wise. Hopefully, we can continue that. I like where we are. We have some depth in the post."
twitter: @tjonessltrib —
Jakob Poeltl
• Native of Austria
• Double-doubled in his college debut with 18 points and 10 rebounds
• Scored 8 points in the first four minutes to set the tone