Chaim Galbut, a 6-foot-7 forward known for playing basketball while visibly maintaining his Orthodox Jewish identity, has committed to Duquesne University, where he hopes to become the first observant Orthodox Jew to complete a full four-year career in Division I college basketball.

The commitment drew attention after basketball analyst Jonathan Givony reported that Duquesne first discovered Galbut through social media, where clips of him dunking while wearing a yarmulka began circulating. Those videos quickly set him apart—not only for his athleticism, but for the unusual combination of high-level play and open religious observance.

Galbut’s path to Division I basketball has been anything but typical. Instead of following the standard recruiting pipeline of AAU tournaments and showcase circuits, he spent time learning in yeshiva while continuing to develop his game. That unconventional route limited his exposure to college programs, making his eventual recruitment through social media all the more striking.

Standing at 6-foot-7 with length and mobility, Galbut profiles as a versatile forward who can run the floor, finish at the rim, and contribute on both ends. His size and athletic ability have drawn attention.

Chaim is a son of Rabbi and Mrs. Elchonon Boruch Galbut of Miami Beach, Florida. He is one of seven children. He has attended Mechinah of South Florida and Yeshiva Bais Yisroel.

Observing Shabbos presents a major challenge at the Division I level, where games, practices, and travel frequently take place on Fridays and Saturdays. However, Matzav.com has learned that Duquesne has already arranged for the first 15+ games not to be held on Shabbos.

Duquesne University is a private, Catholic university located on a 49-acre hilltop campus in Pittsburgh. The school competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

While there have been Orthodox Jewish athletes in college and professional basketball, none have completed a full Division I career while maintaining full observance.

{Matzav.com}