Stony Brook, N.Y. - Jakub Petras (Rajec, Slovakia), a 6-11, 250-pound center, has joined the Stony Brook men’s basketball team, completing the 2014-15 #Seawolves roster and giving the squad a presence on both ends of the floor, head coach Steve Pikiell announced Thursday.

“Jakub is a very talented big man who will fit in well with what we are trying to do as a team,” Pikiell said. “He is skilled both offensively and defensively, and what I really like about him is that he is a good and likable young man who will thrive at Stony Brook. He will be a valuable addition to our team both on and off the court.”

Petras previously played one year of basketball at the Canarias Basketball Academy, long considered the best basketball academy in Europe, located on the island of Gran Canaria, which is part of the Canary Islands. With the addition of Petras, the basketball academy has seen a dozen of its players advance to a NCAA Div. I school this year. Prior to joining Canarias, Petras played club basketball back in Slovakia with IMC Povazska Bystrica, helping the team to two runner-up finishes in the Slovakian National Championship. He was named Player of the Future for his efforts.

Petras also has international experience as a member of the Slovakian U16 and U18 national teams. He appeared in 17 international competitions over two seasons of play in International Basketball Federation (FIBA) sponsored events. This year Petras was on the preliminary pool roster and was one of the final cuts for the Slovakian Men’s A national team that was putting together a roster for the qualification stage of the 2015 European Basketball Championship.

“Jakub is a terrific young man who will be a great addition to Stony Brook,” said Rob Orellana, the director of the Canarias Basketball Academy. “He is very skilled and, here at Canarias, he has had the opportunity to play against high-level basketball players, who have gone on to play NCAA Div. I basketball. He should do very well at Stony Brook and in the America East.”

Petras joins a Stony Brook squad that will return seven letterwinners and one redshirting freshman from last season’s team that won 23 games and advanced to the America East Championship final and earned a national postseason bid into the College Basketball Invitational. Leading the group of returners are 2014 America East Player of the Year Jameel Warney and 2014 All-America East second-team guard Carson Puriefoy. Petras joins an incredibly strong freshman class that also features Bryan Sekunda, Tyrell Sturdivant and Deshaun Thrower.