Chaim Galbut, a 19‑year‑old Orthodox Jewish basketball player from Miami, is poised to make his Division I debut at Duquesne University while strictly observing Shabbat and wearing a yarmulke on the court.
His journey to a scholarship was anything but conventional. After graduating high school in 2025 he received no Division I offers, but a highlight reel from the AAU circuit caught the attention of Duquesne assistant coach Chase Goldstein.
Faith and the fast break
Galbut ultimately selected Duquesne over Yeshiva University, reasoning that the program offered fewer conflicts between his basketball commitments and Sabbath observance, allowing him to maintain his religious routine without compromise.
Each day begins with morning prayers, followed by on‑court drills, online coursework, intensive Talmud study, and additional conditioning sessions, a schedule that underscores the delicate balance he maintains between sport and tradition.
He hopes to become the first yarmulke‑wearing, Sabbath‑observant athlete in modern Division I men’s basketball, echoing the path of Tamir Goodman in 2001, and to demonstrate that religious devotion and athletic ambition need not be at odds.
The university’s support staff and Coach Goldstein have expressed confidence that Galbut’s presence will enrich the team culture and broaden the narrative around inclusion in college sports.