This year the University of Oregon has a new force they have added to their 2018-19 basketball roster. Eighteen-year-old center Bol Manute Bol stands at 7’2″ and was identified as one of the best players in his high school class of 2018. Bol Bol was born in Sudan is the son of former NBA star Manute Bol who passed away in 2010. Bol Bol was named after his great-grandfather the chief of the Dinka tribe, Bol Chol Bol. When he was two years old, his family fled from Sudan to Connecticut as political refugees. Bol started training under his father very young and was instantly recognized as a star. In eighth grade, Bol started being watched by colleges and received his first D-1 offer from New Mexico State. Bol Bol went to four different high schools starting in Kansas, then moving to California, and then finishing in Nevada as a five-star recruit. He played in tournaments including the Like Mike Invitational and Spalding Hoophall Classic. He was also awarded the McDonald’s All-American honors. He committed to the University of Oregon in the Fall of 2017, the biggest recruit the University of Oregon has ever landed.
There has been a lot of talk about Bol Bol and what he plans to do after his first season at Oregon. Bol is already projected to be a top player in the NBA draft in 2019 when he is only 19. Many believe if it wasn’t for the NBA rule requiring high school graduates to complete at least one year of college play before entering the draft (the one and done rule), Bol Bol would have joined the draft right out of high school. A lot of people disagree with the rule considering some of the best players in the NBA never went to college, including Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. The NBA, however, believes college is necessary for players to combat the mindset that entering the NBA is a clear and straight path to fame and fortune. However, entering the NBA has created a path for players to make millions. Lebron James current salary is 35.65 million a year. The current average salary in the NBA is 6.2 million. With the amount of money being paid to players, is it hypocritical for the NBA to insist a player must go to college. With all the press and media surrounding Bol Bol and his future NBA career, I find it hard to believe he will continue to pursue college or try to take in the “college experience” the NBA is insisting he has. The one-and-done rule in the NBA is pointless in my opinion and should be reversed.
Bol Bol will most likely enter the NBA following his freshman season at the University of Oregon. In their opening game against Western Oregon, Bol Bol scored 19 points and had an impressive highlight reel that left NBA scouts excited. Bol Bol will continue to be scouted by NBA teams and will be closely watched by the media.
The University of Oregon team is projected to be number one in Pac-12 and a prestigious team to watch. Besides Bol Bol, the Oregon Ducks are bringing back Payton Pritchard a star point guard, as well as another five-star freshman Louis King.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/bol-bol-is-the-219m-unicorn-set-to-take-college-basketball-by-storm/news-story/27ca86ab30a54851e91c4a81a9a412de
https://247sports.com/Player/Bol-Bol-82110/