Future Basketballer Puk Gets Ready To Begin University of Albany Career

Forward John Puk of Waterloo, Iowa is excited about joining the UAlbany men’s basketball program next season, even though he won’t play a single minute.

Puk, who is 6-9, will pay his own way and redshirt next year with a promise of receiving a scholarship beginning in the 2010-11 season.

Puk verballed to UAlbany last August with the understanding at first that he’d go to prep school in 2009-10. But that plan changed when Puk visited Albany with his parents in October.

“We decided it would be a better situation if I just jumped in right away,” said Puk, who didn’t sign a letter of intent in the fall because he won’t be on scholarship next season.

Puk averaged 12 points and nine rebounds this season for Waterloo West, which went 11-8 for its first winning record in 16 years.

“He’s real nimble,” Waterloo West coach Courtney Henderson said. “He has good feet. He’s a work in progress because he has to gain a little more weight and get a little more physical. He runs the floor very, very well. He’s very athletic. He’s just a great kid who comes from a very good family.”

UAlbany first discovered Puk when he was in New York playing for the Martin Brothers AAU team, the same program that produced former Great Dane standouts Brent Wilson and Brian Lillis.

“I started talking to the coaches and I really liked how they thought,” Puk said. “I loved the campus and atmosphere. I felt like it was a good fit all the way around.”

Puk, who weighs 225 pounds, will be able to practice with the team next year while adding some bulk to his frame.

“They told us, `We’d really love to have John start with us (in 2009), learning the plays and proper nutrition,’ ” his mother, Donna, said. “It’s a win-win situation. We’re just thrilled.”

Donna Puk said some schools, including Denver, wondered why Puk would pay his own way to Albany when he could get a scholarship immediately somewhere else.

“I guess it just shows how Jon felt so strongly connected to the Albany coaches and kids,” she said.

UAlbany has filled its four available scholarships for next season with forward Gavin Glanton, swingman Ralph Watts, center Blake Metcalf and point guard Mike Black.

Donna Puk said her son, who will study pre-med, is receiving some academic scholarship money to offset the cost of his freshman year.

John Puk is also an avid tennis player, so it might be interesting to see a matchup with UAlbany coach Will Brown, who loves the sport.

By Mark Singelais