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6-Foot-11 Columbia State Charger Represents Poland at European Basketball Tournament

Issue #829

October 01, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☁️ Columbia’s Friday Weather - Cloudy, chance of thunderstorms in PM w/ high of 83, low of 68

🏀 6-Foot-11 Columbia State Charger Represents Poland at European Basketball Tournament

👉 10/2: Meet & Greet with Artist Gretel Page at Gallery 48

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

6-Foot-11 Columbia State Charger Represents Poland at European Basketball Tournament

Columbia State Community College Chargers Men’s Basketball Player Piotr Luczak (LOOT-shack) recently played for his home country of Poland in an international basketball tournament.

Prior to playing for the Chargers as a freshman in the 2025-2026 season, Luczak, a Wrocław (VROT-swaaf), Poland native, played basketball for and graduated from the Academy of Central Florida in Orlando. 

Towering over most of the court at 6’11, he was primed to take the position of center on the Chargers’ roster.

Following the Chargers’ close loss in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Region 7 Championship, Luczak began preparing to show off his skills on a global stage by playing for his home country of Poland on the Polish National Youth Team in the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) U20 Youth EuroBasket Tournament.

Over seven total games in July 2026, Luczak averaged 3.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field.

“It was a really special experience for me,” Luczak said. “Being able to represent Poland was something I was very proud of. I worked hard to get that opportunity, so being there and competing against some of the best players in Europe meant a lot to me. It also gave me more motivation to keep working and improve as a player.”

During Poland’s game against the Czech Republic, also called Czechia, he posted a double-double-caliber line of four points, 10 rebounds and a team-best +18 efficiency rating. Following that performance, he reached a season-high eight-point outing against Lithuania.

“My proudest moment was being able to step on the court and represent my country,” Luczak said. “But other than that, definitely the game against Czechia, where I helped my team through the struggle in the difficult times of the game and the win guaranteed us a place to stay in Division A of the tournament.”

Following Poland’s defeat to Serbia, the team ended in eleventh position in the FIBA U20 Youth EuroBasket Tournament.

“We are all extremely proud of Piotr for this amazing achievement,” said Winston Neal, Columbia State men’s basketball head coach. “The opportunity to represent your country in competition is an extremely special moment. Piotr did an amazing job of representing his family, country and Columbia State this summer in the European Championships!”

Luczak returns to Columbia State for the Fall 2026 semester to close out his time playing for the Chargers, with opportunities ahead of him as he continues to develop his skills on the court in both the United States and abroad.

“The experience helped me understand how important it is to play faster, make decisions quickly and stay focused every possession,” Luczak said. “The level of competition was very high, and I saw that small details can make a big difference. I also learned more about my own game, especially where I can be more aggressive and focus more on scoring. Playing with and against different players showed me that everyone has different strengths and ways of playing, so you have to adjust and find ways to help your team.”

10/2: Meet & Greet with Artist Gretel Page at Gallery 48

Join us for a special opportunity to meet Chapel Hill artist Gretel Page, whose handcrafted leather journals, jewelry and collectible pieces embody both artistry and soul. 

Gretel creates pieces that are rich in character, texture and meaning. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted by hand, reflecting her passion for the creative process of transforming simple materials into works of art. Her collection is as distinctive as it is captivating, offering truly one-of-a-kind treasures that celebrate creativity and timeless beauty.

The opening reception will take place at Gallery 48 (107 W. 7th St) on Friday October 2nd, 2026, 5-8pm. Refreshments will be served.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, October 2nd

Saturday, October 3rd

Sunday, October 4th

Monday, October 5th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, October 1
Todd Ciprian - Tito's, 6-9 PM

Friday, October 2
Golden Soul Revue - Grinder's Switch Winery, 6-8 PM
First Fridays with James Carothers - Puckett's, 6:30-8 PM
Unredacted and Speed Trap - Twisted Copper Brewing Co, 6:30-9 PM
Scott Burt Big Band - Riverwalk Park, 7 PM
Live on the Square - Box of Rox - Puckett's, 8-10 PM

Saturday, October 3
The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 2-5 PM
Nick Bentley - Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
TBA - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Vintage Voltage - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
Lucie Tiger - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM

Sunday, October 4
Maddie Rose - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM
Twisted Sunday Jam - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 3-7 PM

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk