Age: 19
Height, Weight: 7-foot-2, 235 pounds
Slash Line: .561/.520/.757
Season Averages: 21.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.7 BPG, 1.4 3PM
Bol Bol is a step behind Morant, Barrett, Hunter and Williamson. There is no big-time collegiate hype around him, but there could have been if he stayed healthy in one season at Oregon.
Just nine games in, the son of the late Manute Bol suffered a season-ending foot injury that required surgery, including a need for two screws inserted into his navicular bone. It was disappointing, especially with how the Ducks succeeded in the NCAA Tournament, but this took the star freshman off the court sooner than later to rehab before the NBA.
The 2019 class’s center position is weak, so even with the foot injury, Bol is the top player. Not by much, however, with Texas’ Jaxson Hayes officially declared. Maryland’s Bruno Fernando and LSU’s Naz Reid also fill out the positional rankings.
Bol’s ability to defend the rim and score from all areas of the floor made him an intriguing prospect, and maybe one team sees through that and takes him in the top 10, especially if the Atlanta Hawks own two first-round picks and if the New Orleans Pelicans trade Anthony Davis.
The New York Knicks are not an ideal fit for Bol. Mitchell Robinson soared as a rookie down the stretch, and he’s the center of the future. Pairing two seven-footers is an interesting concept, but not one in the small-ball NBA of 2019.