BYU signee Jakub Urbaniak remains overseas, joins Spanish pro club
Sep 10, 2026, 1:08 PM | Updated: Sep 11, 2026, 2:28 pm
PROVO – BYU basketball signee Jakub Urbaniak is not going to be a member of the Cougars’ roster in the 2026-27 season.
The 23-year-old big man from Poland was expected to be a key piece in the frontcourt.
Instead, he’s staying overseas due to NCAA eligibility issues. A BYU spokesperson confirmed this to KSL Sports.
Urbaniak will play in Spain during the 2026-27 season with CB Gran Canaria.
BYU signee Jakub Urbaniak will play for Gran Canaria in Spain in the 2026-27 season
📝 El canterano Jakub Urbaniak formará parte del Gran Canaria 26/27.
🔸 El jugador polaco, que aterrizó en La Vega de San José en 2023, estará a las órdenes de Bruno Savignani.
➡️ https://t.co/Q6nzniUIia pic.twitter.com/zDnsME2008
— CB Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) September 10, 2026
“Urbaniak, who will not be making the jump to the American NCAA as originally planned, will thus return to the island to join the Gran Canaria squad that continues its preparation for the start of the league season,” said Gran Canaria, using an English translation in a press release on Thursday announcing the addition of Urbaniak.
Last season, Urbaniak played for WKS Slask Wroclaw.
“He brings size, skill, athleticism, and experience. All things we were looking to add. He will fit in well with the way we want to play because of his versatility on both ends of the floor. We love his motor and competitiveness,” BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young said of Urbaniak when he signed in August.
The departure of Urbaniak is the latest example of the wildest offseasons ever in college basketball. With 11 days until official training camp practices begin, the roster isn’t completely set yet.
Robby McCombs of SBNation reported on Thursday that BYU picked up a commitment from 7-foot-1 Serbian big Petar Ostojic to help fill the void of Urbaniak.
The team is currently practicing eight hours a week before official practices tip off in over a week. BYU’s first exhibition game of the season is on October 16 at home against Nebraska.
Jaxon Kohler hearing coming up
BYU’s biggest move in the frontcourt for the 2026-27 roster comes courtesy of a Temporary Restraining Order in California that allows former Michigan State big Jaxon Kohler to play this season.
Kohler and the 73 other athletes in the Glancey v. NCAA case will have a preliminary injunction hearing on September 29.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
