With the season less than two weeks away, we’re rolling out a four-part feature here at LRT to introduce the fans to the newest faces on the Texas roster. First up is Dogus Balbay, the young Turkish point guard expected to spell D.J. Augustin. Unfortunately, that plan took a big hit when Texas announced today that Balbay is undergoing surgery on Tuesday and will be out indefinitely. Initial reports had indicated the point guard was only visiting doctors tomorrow for further evaluation of the knee that he injured in early October. At this point, it is unknown if he will be available at any point this season. At 6-foot, 1-inch, Balbay would have added a little bit of height to very small backcourt. His European style of play also provided a reputation as a solid perimeter defender, which was a significant weakness for the Longhorns in many of their losses last season.

Scouts note that his rebounding skills are remarkably strong for a six-footer, and are high on his ability to break down defenses off the dribble. With D.J. Augustin also constantly attacking the defense, the similar style of play ensures that there won’t be a drop-off when Balbay spells the starter. The similarities between Dogus and D.J. don’t end there, as reports constantly mention Balbay’s athleticism and ability to hang in the air, drawing fouls and executing late passes under the rim.

After spending two years with Turkish club Fenerbahce Istanbul, Balbay moved to New Hampshire to study and play basketball at Brewster Academy. Big 12 fans will recognize Colorado guard Xavier Silas as another graduate of the Academy, while recruiting aficionados may also be aware of Brewster big man Emmanuel Negedu in the 2008 class.

This summer, Balbay rejoined his Turkish national team at the UMCOR U18 European Championships, where they finished second in group B and ultimately placed eighth. While the team relied heavily on Dogus as a scoring threat in the tournament, most notable amongst his numbers were the three steals he averaged per game. He also played for the U19 team in the World Championships a month later, where Turkey finished seventh.

At the end of last season, it became increasingly apparent that D.J. Augustin could not withstand the constant abuse of 38 to 40 minutes per game. And in the games where Augustin was forced to the bench with foul trouble, the Longhorn offense often screeched to a halt. The signing of Balbay seemed the perfect remedy for this lack of depth, but this latest bit of injury news quickly dampens that excitement. Only time will tell how long the frosh remains unavailable, but he is clearly going to be an impact player when he does finally see the court at the Frank Erwin Center.