Utah basketball: Utes snag commitment from 7-foot Austrian center

The Utes men's basketball 2014 recruiting class is already among the top in the Pac-12, but the team has boosted that status with a commitment from Austrian big man Jakob Poeltl.

The 18-year-old 7-footer is expected to sign with the Utes before the end of the spring signing period, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.

Poeltl has built a foundation as one of the best big men in Europe, averaging 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting a blistering 72.2 percent for the Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions.

With his commitment, Poeltl is expected to be one of the top freshman big men in the Pac-12 entering next season. He'll join Brekkott Chapman, Kyle Kuzma, Isaiah Wright, and Chris Reyes in a class that already features two four-star prospects (Chapman and Kuzma) and could make Utah's front court one of the most formidable in the conference in the next few years, if not right away.

Multiple media reports indicated that Poeltl was choosing between Cal, Arizona and the Utes prior to his commitment.

The Utah coaching staff was unavailable for comment. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on unsigned recruits.

Before Poeltl's commitment, Utah's recruiting class had already been ranked as high as 36th in the nation by 24/7 Sports.

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon —

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Xggggggxgggggggg

Lum dis adisquae. Et que volutem et laccuptior sunt exceatiaest, sum erum issi im nulparchil eos ad qui cum qui sit faceratur?

Opta vendunt aut escitio nsequat uremostectur aut laborum quo bla vidis que corum am quam ipsam es rerum vende venecte vollabo rionsequo es atio duciliq uiatentium ut lici vendi nonet autatur aut et et, venet il mint dolupta non con rernam ium entotat quassit harum iundic tem faccum quiatatem hition pero mi, ev