If you are a fan of basketball, you might have heard of two players with the same last name: Bol. Bol Bol is a South Sudanese-American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). John Bol is a four-star center prospect in the class of 2024 who has received offers from several colleges, including Michigan and Kansas. But are they related in any way? The answer is no.
Bol Bol: The Son of a Legend
Bol Bol is the son of Manute Bol, who was one of the tallest NBA players in history at 7 feet 7 inches. Manute Bol was also a humanitarian and a political activist who helped his native country of Sudan during the civil war. He died in 2010 from kidney failure and complications from a rare skin disease.
Bol Bol was born in Khartoum, Sudan, but moved to the United States with his family when he was two years old. He started playing basketball at age four and showed great potential as a tall and skilled player. He played high school basketball at various schools in Kansas, California and Nevada, and was rated a consensus five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American in 2018.
He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, but his freshman season was cut short by a foot injury that required surgery. He declared for the 2019 NBA draft and was selected by the Miami Heat with the 44th pick, but was traded to the Denver Nuggets on draft day. He spent most of his first two seasons in the NBA on a two-way contract with the Nuggets and their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.
In February 2022, he was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he had more opportunities to showcase his talents. He played in 70 games for the Magic in the 2022-23 season, averaging 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 21.5 minutes per game. He also made 33 starts and showed flashes of his potential as a versatile big man who can shoot from outside, handle the ball and protect the rim.
However, he also struggled with consistency, injuries and defense, and his contract for the 2023-24 season was not guaranteed by the Magic. He was waived by the team on July 4, 2023, making him a free agent.
John Bol: A Rising Star
John Bol is not related to Bol Bol or Manute Bol, but he shares some similarities with them. He is also a South Sudanese-American basketball player who stands at 7 feet 2 inches tall. He was born in Juba, South Sudan, but moved to Omaha, Nebraska, with his family when he was six years old.
He started playing basketball at age eight and quickly developed into a dominant force on both ends of the floor. He played high school basketball at Omaha Central High School, where he led his team to two state championships as a freshman and sophomore. He averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks per game as a sophomore and was named the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year.
He transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, for his junior year to face tougher competition and improve his skills. He continued to impress scouts and coaches with his agility, mobility and shot-blocking ability. He also improved his offensive game by adding range to his jump shot and becoming more comfortable with the ball in his hands.
He is currently ranked as the No. 25 player in the class of 2024 by ESPN and has received offers from several Division I programs, including Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Creighton and Iowa State. He has not made a verbal commitment yet but has expressed interest in playing for Michigan Wolverines under coach Juwan Howard.
According to Basketball Insiders, John Bol is leaning towards Michigan because of their style of play, their history of developing big men and their academic reputation. He also likes their coaching staff and their culture of winning.
Conclusion
Bol Bol and John Bol are two talented basketball players who have the same last name but are not related. They both have South Sudanese roots but grew up in different parts of the United States. They both have impressive height and wingspan but different strengths and weaknesses on the court.
Bol Bol is an NBA player who has shown glimpses of his potential as a unique big man who can do it all but has also faced challenges with injuries, consistency and defense. John Bol is a high school player who is still developing his game but has already attracted attention from many college coaches with his athleticism, versatility and shot-blocking prowess.
They both have bright futures ahead of them and will continue to make their mark on the basketball world.
