After fueling a historic tournament run, 7-foot-2 defensive anchor John Bol returns to Orlando. His elite efficiency and rim protection could propel the Knights toward another postseason breakthrough.
John Bol has already taken a significant step forward at UCF. If the 7-foot-2 center can take another one next season, the Knights could have an important piece in place for another NCAA Tournament run.
Bol had the best season of his career under the guidance of Johnny Dawkins. He was given more responsibilities at UCF than he received at his previous school, Ole Miss.
The 7-foot-2 center started all 33 games and averaged 18.8 minutes per contest. Ole Miss coach Chris Beard played him in 17 games with under five minutes of action.
Dawkins' trust in his sophomore big man transformed him into a defensive anchor, averaging 1.1 blocks per game. He recorded a career-best five blocks twice against West Virginia (Feb. 14) and Baylor (Feb. 28).
The Knights have had a player average over one block for six straight seasons. Bol has continued that trend and could keep it going next season.
He was the most efficient offensive player on the floor, too, finishing the season with a 71.7% field goal percentage and shooting 75.5% in Big 12 play. In ESPN's stat leaderboards, Bol does not appear, as he shot 3.4 times per game rather than the minimum attempts (five) to chart leaderboards.
Bol's development was a major reason UCF ended its six-year NCAA Tournament drought. His presence in the paint gave Dawkins the defensive anchor the Knights had been missing.
He scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a decisive victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament. It booked the Knights' ticket to Philadelphia to play against the No. 7-seeded UCLA Bruins.
UCF's tournament run came to an early end, and Bol underperformed in his lone appearance. He scored two points (1-for-3) and grabbed six rebounds.
The dreaded transfer portal arrived after Michigan won the national championship. Several Knights entered the portal, and Bol could've been one of them.
Instead, Bol stayed in Orlando, sticking with the coach and program that had given him his biggest opportunity.
With next season approaching, UCF could be underrated once again. X user March Mindset Media has the team undergoing a rebuild year after achieving back-to-back 20-win seasons.
They said Bol is the X-factor for the program, as success hinges on whether the South Sudanese center takes the next step.
Remaining disciplined is one area of improvement for Bol. He averaged 2.5 personal fouls per game and recorded seven games with one or fewer.
Another is becoming a respectable free-throw shooter. Teams employed the Hack-a-Shaq method, sending a 61.5% free-throw shooter to the line for more possessions.
If Bol cleans up those two areas, UCF has a legitimate chance to reach 20 wins again. That makes him one of the most important players on the roster.
