The UBC men's basketball program is pleased to announce standout recruit and homegrown talent Jacob Antchak has committed to the Thunderbirds beginning with the upcoming 2024-25 season.
 
The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Langley, BC native won't be hard to spot in the gym as a power forward with a rare mix of size and athleticism who should make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball with the ability to guard multiple positions. The soon to be 20-year-old has a high ceiling and will also be a welcome addition as a presence in the paint for the T-Birds with an appetite to devour rebounds at both ends of the floor. Antchak will study business at UBC and returns back west as an NCAA Division 1 transfer with four years of eligibility remaining after spending last season apprenticing with the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Phoenix.
 
"We are very excited to announce that Jacob Antchuk will be joining our Thunderbird family for the 2024-25 season," said long-time UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. "We had been recruiting Jacob for a few years and Jadon Cohee, former UBC player and assistant coach, played a big role during the recruiting process (both attending Walnut Grove high school). Jacob has a great work ethic and will be a big addition to our team, he is a very physical player who can really rebound the ball, loves to dunk the ball, and has 3-point range. He is a big body that has NCAA D1 experience but wanted to come home and play in front of his family and friends. He has a very outgoing personality with a burning desire to win and will definitely be one of the crowd favorites inside War Memorial Gym."


 
"I chose to study and play at UBC because I know I'll receive a great education along with being able to compete for a program that has an impressive tradition of winning. In speaking with former players and future teammates, they shared experiences about the amazing environment and culture and the opportunity to play for a coach who cares about his players. Also, after living in some other cities, I look forward to returning to live in the best part of the world."
 
Antchak has built up a quite the basketball resume over the last four-years beginning with a standout grade-10 season playing with his hometown Walnut Grove Senior Secondary where he helped lead the team to the provincial semifinals. He then transferred to the London Basketball Academy, (London, Ontario) before settling down at prestigious CTA West, Canadian Top Flight Academy, a prep school out of Calgary, Alb. Antchak finished his grade 12 year at CTA west before mulling over some offers and finally committed to the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.


 
Among other attributes Antchak has also been described as having a high basketball IQ, a mature player despite still being young thanks in part to being a vocal communicator and team player on and off the floor. That combined with his explosive raw talent will make him a versatile and comforting option for coach Hanson beginning next season.
 
"My best attributes are my defensive intensity and ability to rebound," reflected Antchak. "Those two elements are the foundation of my game and jump start everything else to allow me to be successful in all areas."

Antchak will bolster a 'Birds attack that undergoes some inevitable turnover from another winning season in 2023-24 where UBC compiled a 14-6 record, good for fourth spot in the 17-team conference standings as well as being ranked No. 4 in the country (U SPORTS) prior to being eliminated in the Canada West Playoff tournament.
 
Antchak's first season as a T-Bird should be a memorable one for many reasons including the added incentive that sees UBC hosting the 2025 U SPORTS men's and women's Basketball Championships, thanks to title sponsor INDOCHINO, and presenting sponsor Victory Creative Group. The T-Birds men's and women's basketball programs will enjoy an automatic berth and It will mark the first time in U SPORTS history that a single university will play host to both the women's and men's Final 8 basketball tournaments, taking place from Mach 13 through 16^th, 2025.