Hoops Highlights: John Bol

ORLANDO – With the season just weeks away and zero points returning from last year’s roster, head coach Johnny Dawkins and the UCF men’s basketball team are embracing a season headlined by opportunity. Towering above the fresh-faced roster stands 7-foot-2 center John Bol, whose raw talent, massive upside and relentless work ethic embody the energy and potential of this revamped squad.

Bol, a sophomore transfer from Ole Miss, made waves in the basketball world long before he stepped onto the court in a Rebels uniform for the 2024–25 season. Ranked as the eighth-best center in the 2024 class, he was on the radar of recruiters and college programs nationwide, all anticipating his future impact. But what makes Bol’s rise truly remarkable is that he hadn’t even picked up a basketball until 2021. 

Born in South Sudan and raised partly in Kenya, he moved to the United States at age 16—reluctantly at that. At the time, he had no interest in basketball, growing up in a household where soccer reigned supreme, Bol was more inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo rather than the typical LeBron James or Steph Curry. But all that would change with a push from his mom.

That “something” turned out to be a pickup basketball game on a neighborhood court in Georgia. A game which he played barefoot, with no knowledge of the sport, and no real desire to be there, preferring video games and avoiding the outdoors altogether. But in that game, Bol found something that drew him in: camaraderie and belonging. 

And the more he came back to those neighborhood courts, the faster he fell in love with the game. He taught himself how to play via YouTube, practiced for hours, and within a year, coaches started to notice. His height gave him a head start, but it was his work ethic that set him apart.

By the time Bol was a senior in high school, he had climbed the national rankings: a consensus four-star recruit by On3, 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN. He was named the No. 1 player in Georgia, ranked as high as No. 54 in the country, and became one of the top centers in the 2024 class.

Then came the ultimate recognition: being named to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game, the first player in UCF program history to earn that honor. Although having already put his name in the Knights' history books with this accomplishment, Bol is eager to make an impact both defensively and as a leader on a young, hungry squad.

That mindset fits perfectly with a UCF team still discovering its identity. With a roster built largely through transfers, the Knights are in the midst of a transformation. And Bol’s own journey, from picking up a basketball for the first time in 2021 to becoming a nationally ranked recruit, mirrors exactly what UCF is hoping to achieve this season: turning unfamiliar parts into something cohesive, competitive, and dangerous.

About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.