Ivey League: 7-footer Bol brings energy and KG ferocity to Ole Miss basketball

John Bol (upon further review) is the second-highest-ranked signee in Ole Miss basketball history.

Best believe the 7-footer has high expectations for himself as a Rebel freshman in 2024-25. 

Bol details his journey from South Sudan to Oxford, Mississippi, in the latest (June 30, 2024) edition of the ‘Ivey League’ — a podcast powered by the Ole Miss Spirit and RiverLand Roofing and hosted by star Rebel football defender Jared Ivey.

“I’m a dude that brings a lot of energy to the team,” Bol said. “Might be a freshman, but I have a big voice. That’s something a lot of my teammates have seen, too, from the first two, three weeks we’ve had practices. 

“I love to bring energy to the team. That’s something I always do. I just love the game.”

Bol was one of just 24 McDonald’s All-Americans in the 2024 recruiting class. 

He’s the third signed by the Rebels out of high school. Another, Matthew Murrell, has returned for a fifth and final Ole Miss season. Murrell was the Rebels’ leading scorer last season.

Bol arrived in the United States in March of 2021. He’d only begun playing basketball two years earlier while living in Nairobi with his brother. 

Bol got his U.S. career started at St. Louis (Missouri) Christian Brothers. He broke the school record for blocks as a sophomore before transferring to Sunrise Christian (Kansas) Academy for the 2022-2023 campaign. 

Bol also shined for MOKAN Elite on the Nike EYBL Circuit.

“(Second-year Ole Miss head) Coach (Chris) Beard’s been recruiting me since I was a freshman,” Bol said. “They’ve always been close to me and let me know they wanted me. It created a sense of family. I trust the dude.”

Ole Miss won 20 games but missed the postseason last year.

“I can’t wait for this team, man,” Bol continued. “We’re really good right now; we look really good. We’re creating a bond. I can’t wait to play my first game. I’m just excited. I have some games circled. Couple of them. I can’t wait to play in (The Pavilion) with all the fans. It’s nothing new to me, but I’ll still love to feel that experience of college basketball.”

IVEY LEAGUE EPISODES

1. Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul’s journey to Ole Miss and, now, the Ivey League
2. JJ Pegues enters the ‘Ivey League’: Coming home, making right and giving back
3. TJ Dudley reports to the Ivey League with a love of Beethoven and big Ole Miss dreams
4. Go, Diego (Pounds), Go! From UNC to Ole Miss and on to the Ivey League
5. Star Rebel defender Jared Ivey has ‘no bounds’ for his Spirit-exclusive ‘Ivey League’ podcast
6. ‘Doo’ Does the Ivey League: Ole Miss football riding Bentley as lead back in 2024
7. A ‘Princely’ (Umanmielen) welcome to the ‘Ivey League’ for Ole Miss football’s newest sack artist
8. Banks’ Open in the ‘Ivey League’: Coming home, gaming and stepping up at Ole Miss
9. Ivey League: Keith Carter details how he held off Arkansas again for another Ole Miss head coach
10. Lane Train rolls into the Ivey League with stories of a one-of-a-kind coaching career
11. ‘You’re my hero’: ‘Ivey League’ celebrates Mother’s Day with Tracey Ivey-Muhammad
12. Ivey League: KD Hill and finding gratitude in the midst of fire
13. Ivey League: Caden Prieskorn isn’t just Ole Miss’ star tight end. He’s also a dad.
14. Chris Beard still trying to win like Mike, only now as Ole Miss basketball coach