CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. -- Six-foot-10 center Jacek Duda used the Polish National Basketball Team as a ticket to a new life.
Duda, 19, left the team during its United States tour last month to join his parents, who had emigrated from Warsaw in September and settled in this heavily ethnic mill city.
It was unclear Thursday whether Duda defected and was seeking asylum, or whether the Polish government had approved of his decision to remain in the U.S. His family said he had defected.
A spokeswoman at the State Department in Washington said she knew nothing about Duda, but added 'as a practice we don't comment on asylum requests.'
'Because the father and the mother are here, I suspect it will be resolved relatively soon,' Duda's high school principal, Stephen Menatian, said Thursday.
Zenon and Gertruda Duda, parents of the athlete, left Warsaw in September and settled in this heavily ethnic mill city. The teenager was unable to join his parents at that time because a martial law ruling prevented anyone his age from leaving.
Andrevi Sadanowicz, Duda's half-brother, said the family was surprised Polish officials let him join the tour.
'We didn't think they'd let Jacek come because he had family in this country, but the team needed him,' Sadanowicz told the Evening Times of Pawtucket. 'It was a complete surprise to us, just a coincidence that brought him here.'
The 227-pound center is now enrolled in an English program at Central Falls High School.
'I like it here, this city,' Duda said.
Duda reportedly is already attracting the attention of a number of college basketball coaches.
Providence College basketball coach Joe Mullaney said he had heard of Duda's arrival, but had not approached him.
'We're always interested in new players,' Mullaney said. 'We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but we certainly would be interested if he is a player.'
Meantime, Duda is practicing with the Central Falls High School squad. He is ineligible to play in official games because of his age.
Coach George Desautell said the presence of the big man will be welcome at team practices.
'When you play against someone 6-foot-10, it can only help,' Desautell said.
