Dominating the paint at 7-foot-2, the Ole Miss transfer utilized elite efficiency and a relentless work ethic to anchor the Knights’ historic return to the NCAA Tournament.
John Bol's towering size in the paint helped him finish with the best field goal percentage in the Big 12 last season for the UCF Knights.
Bol, standing at 7-foot-2, shot 71.7% from the field for the season and 75.5% throughout conference play. He achieved these numbers as a starter for the Knights after transferring from Ole Miss.
The Ole Miss transfer averaged 3.4 field goal attempts per game, which excludes him from appearing in the Big 12 leaderboards on ESPN. Players must play 75% of their program’s games and shoot at least five field goals a night.
His attempts are significantly low for a center of his stature, but finishing around the rim matters more than the attempts put up. Bol averaged 5.9 points last season across 33 games.
After playing a major role in breaking UCF's six-year NCAA Tournament drought, he announced his return on April 15. Bol's tenure under coach Johnny Dawkins extends to two seasons, and he's scratching the surface of his true potential.
"He plays hard out there on the floor," Dawkins said on Dec. 11. "And now you want to help that translate into him getting more experience on the court, which he's been able to get with us this season. The more experience he gains with his work ethic, the sky's the limit for how good he can be."
Bol also benefited from having a floor general on the court who fed the big man. Themus Fulks and Bol had good on-court chemistry, with Bol setting screens and Fulks threading the needle to his roller.
When the 7-footer is involved in the offense, it's hard to contain UCF. Bol often reached double-digit points when he shot more than five times a game. He scored 10 points or more six times in the nine games he took over five attempts.
Fourteen points is Bol's career-high, and he reached that mark twice during the season. His first 14-point game came in the upset victory over then-No. 11 Texas Tech, and he shot 6-for-8 from the field.
UCF's overtime loss against the Oklahoma State Cowboys is the second time Bol scored 14 points. Bol shot perfectly from the field (5-5) and the free-throw line (4-4).
The South Sudan native could replicate his performance next season with a new set of guards feeding him the ball. Arturo Dean (3.7 assists), Mister Dean (three assists) and Cayden Vasko (4.1 assists) will be the top playmakers on Dawkins' roster.
Bol also averaged 1.8 offensive rebounds last season. More possessions present the 7-footer with more opportunities to score efficiently inside the paint.
Returning as a junior, Bol should become a focal point of the Knights' offense and defense, as the program aims to replicate another 20-win season for the third straight year.
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