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Big Man on Campus... Bengals Welcome Central Florida's Kusmieruk
Aug. 31, 2010
POCATELLO, Idaho - Talk about big man on campus, Idaho State men's basketball welcomes Central Florida's Jakub Kusmieruk (KOOS-meer-uhk) a 7-4 center who hails from Lodz, Poland to the Bengal program. Kusmieruk will be redshirting the 2010-11 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but he will bring tremendous experience and size to practice to challenge his Idaho State teammates.
"He's the biggest person I've ever coached," said Head Coach Joe O'Brien. "I've been around Shaq one time a long time ago, but he wasn't quite as tall as Jakub. There aren't very many people on the planet who are 7-4 that are coordinated enough to play the game. That is a very small population as well as having the desire to play the game at this level."
"We're excited about working with him. We're excited about his progress as a basketball player in his two years at Central Florida and what they thought his potential was in his last two years," said O'Brien.
Kusmieruk competed for the University of Central Florida for two seasons averaging six minutes in 24 contests during the 2009-10 season. In that time he averaged 51.7 percent from the floor for the Knights. He also posted 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
For UCF, Kusmieruk scored four points and posted three rebounds in nine minutes against UTEP at the Conference USA Championship. He also notched seven points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds in only 10 minutes at Tulsa. During the 2008-09 he averaged five minutes over 14 games.
"Obviously it is a difficult task recruiting at this level getting players with size that can play and can contribute. David (Deividas Busma) being a fifth year senior, we knew we were going to have to replace him in the recruiting process and if we can bring a transfer in that can spend a year in the program practicing, adapting to the way we play, it was a no brainer...And he's 7-4, 280 lbs so he'll be the biggest postman in the Big Sky Conference easily. We'll have Kamil (Gawrzydek) back again next year so we'll have two postmen on the roster and that won't be a necessity in recruiting this year."
Kusmieruk's high school experience consisted of three years under the direction of Tony Martin in Maryland at the John Carroll School. The 7-4 center began playing basketball just before coming to the United States prior to his sophomore season in high school. Prior to his junior and senior seasons at the John Carroll school Kusmieruk spent time at the Pro Training Center at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
"He's a post man that can score around the basket pretty well, whereas Davis has adapted to a better back to the basket player. Jakub at 7-4 he scores easily around the basket. He can block shots, though that's not his forte and he can rebound the ball well. He's so big, defensively he takes up a lot of space being an influence around the basket," said O'Brien.
"For Jakub's size he gets up and down the floor very well. He's got a pro body," said O'Brien. "Right now he needs to adjust to the way we want to play, which is a little more half court than what he is accustomed to as well as getting use to playing with our guys, most of which will return next year with only three seniors on the team. I think it's a good fit for him and us."
Last season the Bengals struggled with medical issues such as injury (Busma) and a developed heart condition (Rolando Little) that kept ISU's five position filled by Demetrius Monroe a 6-8, 200 lb. forward who was worn down by mid-January.
Kusmieruk will serve as added competition in practice to push ISU's already solid four and five position lineup. Not only did Idaho State bring in Kusmieruk, who will replace Busma when he graduates, the Bengals have Gwarzydek who will split time with Busma during the 2010-11 season, ISU has three strong bodies with Abner Moreira who stands at 6-9 with 230 lbs., Justin Brunswick at 6-9 and Brandon Glanz at 6-6 and 230 lbs.
--www.isubengals.com--
Big Man on Campus... Bengals Welcome Central Florida's Kusmieruk
Aug. 31, 2010
POCATELLO, Idaho - Talk about big man on campus, Idaho State men's basketball welcomes Central Florida's Jakub Kusmieruk (KOOS-meer-uhk) a 7-4 center who hails from Lodz, Poland to the Bengal program. Kusmieruk will be redshirting the 2010-11 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but he will bring tremendous experience and size to practice to challenge his Idaho State teammates.
"He's the biggest person I've ever coached," said Head Coach Joe O'Brien. "I've been around Shaq one time a long time ago, but he wasn't quite as tall as Jakub. There aren't very many people on the planet who are 7-4 that are coordinated enough to play the game. That is a very small population as well as having the desire to play the game at this level."
"We're excited about working with him. We're excited about his progress as a basketball player in his two years at Central Florida and what they thought his potential was in his last two years," said O'Brien.
Kusmieruk competed for the University of Central Florida for two seasons averaging six minutes in 24 contests during the 2009-10 season. In that time he averaged 51.7 percent from the floor for the Knights. He also posted 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
For UCF, Kusmieruk scored four points and posted three rebounds in nine minutes against UTEP at the Conference USA Championship. He also notched seven points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds in only 10 minutes at Tulsa. During the 2008-09 he averaged five minutes over 14 games.
"Obviously it is a difficult task recruiting at this level getting players with size that can play and can contribute. David (Deividas Busma) being a fifth year senior, we knew we were going to have to replace him in the recruiting process and if we can bring a transfer in that can spend a year in the program practicing, adapting to the way we play, it was a no brainer...And he's 7-4, 280 lbs so he'll be the biggest postman in the Big Sky Conference easily. We'll have Kamil (Gawrzydek) back again next year so we'll have two postmen on the roster and that won't be a necessity in recruiting this year."
Kusmieruk's high school experience consisted of three years under the direction of Tony Martin in Maryland at the John Carroll School. The 7-4 center began playing basketball just before coming to the United States prior to his sophomore season in high school. Prior to his junior and senior seasons at the John Carroll school Kusmieruk spent time at the Pro Training Center at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
"He's a post man that can score around the basket pretty well, whereas Davis has adapted to a better back to the basket player. Jakub at 7-4 he scores easily around the basket. He can block shots, though that's not his forte and he can rebound the ball well. He's so big, defensively he takes up a lot of space being an influence around the basket," said O'Brien.
"For Jakub's size he gets up and down the floor very well. He's got a pro body," said O'Brien. "Right now he needs to adjust to the way we want to play, which is a little more half court than what he is accustomed to as well as getting use to playing with our guys, most of which will return next year with only three seniors on the team. I think it's a good fit for him and us."
Last season the Bengals struggled with medical issues such as injury (Busma) and a developed heart condition (Rolando Little) that kept ISU's five position filled by Demetrius Monroe a 6-8, 200 lb. forward who was worn down by mid-January.
Kusmieruk will serve as added competition in practice to push ISU's already solid four and five position lineup. Not only did Idaho State bring in Kusmieruk, who will replace Busma when he graduates, the Bengals have Gwarzydek who will split time with Busma during the 2010-11 season, ISU has three strong bodies with Abner Moreira who stands at 6-9 with 230 lbs., Justin Brunswick at 6-9 and Brandon Glanz at 6-6 and 230 lbs.
--www.isubengals.com--
