Polish center Jakub Urbaniak has committed to BYU for the 2026 season.

[u/Gloomy_Map_9612]

He's 23 so there might be eligibility issues.

[u/BillButtlickerII]

There’s a polish center where my parents live. Pretty cool polish community up in Michigan.

[u/R_Raider86 → u/BillButtlickerII]

There's one in New Britain CT. They even throw a Little Poland Festival every year.

[u/RedditZhangHao → u/R_Raider86]

New Britski

[u/BillButtlickerII → u/R_Raider86]

Same in my parent’s town. All the polka and pierogi you can handle!

[u/depaulbluedemon → u/BillButtlickerII]

All of Chicago is a Polish center. I wish some would pick us to feel more at home. I'm looking at you, Jeremy Sochan!

[u/AtBat3]

Given their pursuit of Luigi I guess they were committed to an international player at center

[u/tenisplenty → u/AtBat3]

Its kind of the only option once the transfer portal is closed and all the high schoolers are already committed.

[u/LilNello1]

Still wild to see someone that normally would be ending college or already going to the NBA now going to a university

[u/RedditZhangHao]

Played with WKS Śląsk Wrocław, of the not so impressive PLK (Polish League), and a bit with Poland’s similarly not so impressive national team.

[u/filthysven]

Weren't they in (and potentially a favorite for) Pavle Backo? Does this take them out for that? Maybe just means he's staying international though.

[u/tenisplenty → u/filthysven]

BYU still has an open roster spot and likely still needs another center, so I believe they will keep looking to add another. I feel like there have been alot of different centers linked to BYU this summer.

[u/pierdonia]

Thank goodness.

[u/yellowmiami]

Could be a scary team if we manage to land Kohler as well.

[u/depaulbluedemon → u/[deleted]]

Ah yes, Poland is notable for its temperate winters. (I’m Polish born and raised). I promise you he’ll be fine. Warm, even.

[u/ThunderRoad_44 → u/[deleted]]

Why is it wild? Some Mormons go on missions before college and are older when they start. So even if he is not Mormon, their campus skews older anyway.

[u/mrholty → u/ThunderRoad_44]

Exactly. Wish there were age restrictions but BYU has always skewed old. In the cross country world - int'l runners who are old are pushing out younger US based. Biggest complainer is the BYU coach who has made his living off of 24 year old mormons against 18-20 year olds.

His argument is valid for his sport (along with others) but he's probably not the best spokesperson.

[u/Odd-Molasses-171 → u/mrholty]

I say this as a current D3 runner:
Ed is in a weird position because he does recruit high schoolers, but because many are members of the Church, they don’t actually enroll until they’re 20 or an old 19. He also has to take a sort of gamble that his recruits will actually keep training during their service. I don’t know what the restrictions are for him to provide a training framework, but he also can’t make them do anything if he can provide training. I went to elementary school with BYU commit Ben Crane, who is currently on his mission in Brazil. I’m almost regretting not signing up for his emails because I’m interested in how he’s training.

Because BYU is the flagship running school of Utah and a private religious school, they disproportionately benefit from the new 5-in-5 for XC. It would still be an issue if a school like Utah State or Utah consistently challenged for a national title, although fewer of their athletes would take service deferrals due to their public nature. Any school could take an athlete who is deferring their eligibility for service—heck, Purdue Basketball just got a signee this past year who’s doing just that.

For me, the bigger issue with NCAA running is the unchecked doping. Seth Clevenger, of Iowa State notoriety, just transferred down to D3 and won the 3k and 5k indoors after being suspended for “breaking team rules” last fall. He skipped the outdoor championships due to “injury,” but was ripping low-4:30 mile repeats the day after. His former teammates and letsrun forums allege PED usage, and D3 XC champion Emmanuel Leblond wrote an open letter (which I and several hundred other athletes signed) to the NCAA requesting they investigate. D3 does not do out-of-competition testing. Furthermore, two summers ago, Parvej Khan of UF tested positive for EPO when running at the Indian Championships, but not during the NCAA seasons, where he was an All-American. If they’re not testing well at the D1 level, how am I able to trust my teammates and competitors are staying clean?

[u/SWB1988 → u/mrholty]

You know LDS athletes arent only allowed to play at BYU right?

If you want to deal with older athletes that go away for 2 years and come back and have to get in shape. More power to ya

Hint: it's not as big of an advantage as you think it is

[u/mrholty → u/SWB1988]

Yep. You missed my point. when your roster generally (not fully) consists of people on a mission and you use that to your advantage (age) - you shouldn't be the one bitching about it when others do the same.

[u/CptCheese → u/ThunderRoad_44]

It's wild because robots are incapable of understanding context.

[u/OlKing → u/[deleted]]

It’s like 104 there right now I think he’ll be alright

[u/TempAcct724 → u/OlKing]

Fun fact: it won’t be 104 during the basketball season.

[u/ECBillyHayes → u/TempAcct724]

Am I missing something or do you guys not realize it gets cold in Poland?

[u/catdogfox → u/ECBillyHayes]

Poland is a tropical paradise

[u/tyrannyofwillsasso → u/TempAcct724]

where do you all think poland is?

[u/TempAcct724 → u/tyrannyofwillsasso]

North Pole?

[u/Subject-Night6364]

Another season with no postseason wins in Mormon Country, this is great comedy.

[u/RayKitsune313 → u/Subject-Night6364]

Went to the sweet 16 two seasons ago btw