UCF 7-foot-2 center John Bol returning to the Knights

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(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

Wed, Apr 15, 2026 ·

2 min read

UCF center John Bol is returning to the Knights’ roster for the 2026-27 season.

The 7-foot-2, 210-pound Bol averaged 5.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 18.7 minutes in 33 games this past season. He was one of three players who started every game, along with guard Themus Fulks and forward Jordan Burks.

The school announced Bol’s return on social media on Wednesday.

“Knight Nation, you made this year so special. Your support has meant the world to me and I am excited for Year 2. Let’s keep charging on,” Bol said in a social media post put out by UCF.

Bol, who transferred to UCF last season after one season at Ole Miss, becomes the first starter to announce his decision to return for a second season. Backup guard Carmelo Pacheco is also returning, after averaging 4.6 points in 31 games while backing up shooting guard Riley Kugel.

UCF is coming off a 21-12 season in which the Knights made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

The Knights already had to replace five players whose eligibility expired, led by Fulks, Kugel, Jamichael Stillwell, Devan Cambridge and George Beale Jr., along with transfer Chris Johnson and Poopha Warakulnukroh.

The departures leave UCF looking to replace 71% of its scoring production (56.9 points per game) from this season.

UCF has already received commitments from a trio of transfers led by guard Cayden Vasko (Wofford) and forwards Isaiah Malone (FGCU) and Lewis Walker (North Carolina A&T).

Bol set career-highs in scoring (5.9), rebounds (5.6), blocks (35) and field goal percentage (73%) and scored double-digits in five games this season, including 14 points in a 111-104 loss to Oklahoma State on March 3. He recorded five-plus rebounds in 17 games, including a career-high 11 against Florida A&M (Dec. 23) and had at least three blocks four times, including a career-high five against Baylor (Feb. 28).

Originally from South Sudan, Bol was a consensus 4-star prospect when he signed with Mississippi.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com . Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.