Jakub Dombek will attempt to make a career out of college basketball at Hartford.
The former Colorado Buffaloes forward announced via his Instagram account that he has committed to the University of Hartford. Dombek, a talented but raw 6-foot-11 project out of the Czech Republic, redshirted as a true freshman in the 2018-19 season and appeared in just four games this past season. Dombek scored the only points of his CU career on a 3-pointer during the Buffs’ 45-point rout of Iona on Dec. 29.
Following a season that was halted abruptly with the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Dombek and sophomore guard Daylen Kountz announced their intentions to transfer out of coach Tad Boyle’s program. Kountz landed at the University of Northern Colorado.
Hartford went 18-15 this past season and advanced within a game of an NCAA Tournament berth after reaching the America East league championship game. However, that game wasn’t played before the season was canceled.
If NCAA transfer rules remain intact, Dombek and Kountz will have to sit out the 2020-21 season, barring unlikely waivers, with Dombek still retaining three years of eligibility and Kountz two. The NCAA was expected to vote on May 20 about possibly eliminating the sit-out season for undergraduate transfers, but the NCAA transfer working group recommended to the Division I council two weeks ago that the vote should wait until January, as athletic departments deal with more pressing financial and personnel matters during the pandemic shutdown.
Boyle filled the postseason departures of Dombek, Kountz, and NBA draft-bound junior Tyler Bey by signing 2020 freshmen Tristan da Silva and Jabari Walker, along with Tulsa graduate transfer Jeriah Horne.