john bol ajak

He later came to the United States for high school in 2015 and credits his parents back in Kenya for instilling leadership qualities in him from a young age. But this past summer, Ajak played much better. Keep checking back for the newest additions of John Bol Ajak Orange Jerseys. 6'10'' | 200 lbs | C. Westtown School. But there are essentially three reasons why Syracuse (and other similar schools) would be interested in a recruit with Ajak's profile. © 2019 Sports Phenoms, Inc., All Rights Reserved | This site has no affiliation with the National Basketball Association | Website by SOF, Inc. Switch Players Film review: The player Syracuse wants the redshirting John Bol Ajak to be . John Bol Ajak NCAA Basketball player profile pages at CBSSports.com. Same goes for Qudus Wahab. (Mike Waters | mwaters@syracuse.c). Big men often develop more slowly than guards and there's reason to believe that Ajak has a wealth of untapped potential because he just started playing basketball about three years ago. Boeheim did not have many other options with John Bol Ajak redshirting and Jesse Edwards still too raw to contribute. Class of 2018 Cal University Of PA. Matt Carson. University of Delaware. “I didn’t have a good spring, I was playing very bad because of the injury and the team we had, we didn’t really mesh really well.”. Syracuse fans can expect Ajak to be a mainstay in the middle of Boeheim’s infamous 2-3 zone defense. Syracuse. Syracuse has been looking at signing two bigs in this year's class and, as a result, the SU coaches have been looking for versatile players. Second, Ajak's national ranking suffered this past year when he struggled during his junior season and then suffered an Achilles injury that hampered him during the spring AAU period. He is not in anybody's Top 100 recruits for the 2019 class. Get the latest news, stats and more about John Bol Ajak on RealGM.com Earlier this week, Syracuse received a commitment from John Bol Ajak, a 6-foot-11 senior at Westtown School in West Chester, Pa. Ajak's decision sparked quite a few questions from readers. In the cutthroat world of college basketball recruiting, scholarship offers can evaporate within a matter of weeks. Johh Bol Ajak, a senior at Westtown High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, prepares to shoot a free throw. 5 Frank Anselem. Do the ghosts of options of the past — Villanova, Georgetown, etc. View the profiles of people named John Bol Ajak. “That’s one of the big reasons I came to Syracuse, because they really stayed down,” Ajak said. © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. In this edition we talk with redshirt freshman center John Bol Ajak!. Syracuse, N.Y. -- It's not quite basketball season, but fall is still a great time of the year for basketball fans. He weighed, at that point, 198 pounds. Although he’d be displaying his talents in front of potential suitors from across the country, the future Syracuse signee had a good idea where he’d be spending his college years, and it wasn’t on the Hill. John Bol Ajak, a 6-foot-11 center at Westtown School in West Chester, Pa., has committed to Syracuse. That makes him unique as a center and would allow him to play with someone like Isaiah Stewart, who is a powerfully-built forward with a strong low-post game. Last year, Ajak (right in photo) attended a Syracuse game along with his host family. Recibe noticias, estadísticas, videos, resúmenes y más sobre Syracuse Orange centro John Bol Ajak en ESPNDeportes. I do so mainly out of consideration for the recruit and his family. Ajak will instead take a season off to work on his body, preserving a year of eligibility and setting himself up to contribute in 2020 and beyond. “They always said, ‘We’ve seen you play enough, you can bounce back from this.’”. “I just want to be around the guys. Church Farm coach Marc Turner decided to use a hands-on approach to teach the young big man what a winter climate is like. October 07, 2018: Official Visit. Join Facebook to connect with John Bol Ajak and others you may know. 6'10" 215 lbs : Center: HS: Westtown School : West Chester, PA : HS: School at Church Farm : Exton, PA : Born: 12/1999 : Natinga, South Sudan : Season Stats ; Season Cl Pos G GS Min FG FGA % FT FTA % 3Pt 3PA % Asst Reb DReb OReb Fls DQ TO ST BS Pts PPG APG RPG; 2019-20: Fr: DNP -----0.0: 0.0: 0.0: Career ----- -----0.0. Mike: It's against NCAA rules for a school to make a recruit available during his campus visit. I generally don't do stories about a recruit's visit because there usually isn't much news value. Updated Jan 29, 2019; Posted Oct 04, 2018 John Bol Ajak, a 6-foot-11 center at Westtown School in West Chester, Pa., has committed to Syracuse. John Bol Ajak officially visits Pittsburgh Panthers. And while he … What guys will see that he's committed and now cross Syracuse off their list? SIGNED LOI. Anyone watching could see that he was not himself, as he limped his way to averages of just two points and four rebounds per game that spring for Team Final, with twice as many turnovers as assists and only two blocks in 12 games. 10/2/2018. Not in the slightest. What many did not know was that the 6-foot-11 native of South Sudan was playing through an Achilles’ tendon injury at the time, severely hampering his ability to get up and down the floor or move laterally. Got a question for Mike Waters? Why don't you ever seem to discuss the basketball recruits' visit to SU? At the time, Villanova was coming off its second national championship in three seasons and while Ajak was considering other big-time programs like Georgetown, Wake Forest and Syracuse, he thought he would play out April and eventually commit to the national champs. “He’ll help that team stretch the floor to add a little bit more space for the bigs, and he’s also a really good rebounder. I wanted to play for a championship team, and I felt like they had the best talent around me to get that. I was under the impression that journalists are not allow to speak with recruits on their visits to schools. This time a year ago, Syracuse basketball recruit John Bol Ajak was preparing for the April evaluation periods where he would be playing in front of scores of major college coaches on the Nike EYBL circuit with his Philly-area AAU club, Team Final. All rights reserved (About Us). Looking back, Ajak is thankful for the experiences that led him to pledge his commitment to Boeheim, Autry and the Orange. “They never got down on me,” Ajak said. Latest on Syracuse Orange center John Bol Ajak including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN He's 6-10 and about 230 pounds, which makes him very different from Ajak. – When John Bol Ajak decided to redshirt his freshman season at Syracuse, he considered a multitude of factors. I felt like I could be the missing piece to the puzzle.”. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Ajak's main asset is his ability to step out and knock down a jumper from 15 feet. RF Natinga, South Sudan Westtown School (Pa.) Full Bio. Berger stressed how Ajak’s leadership was felt most strongly when he was relegated to the bench for the opening portion of the season with a hip injury, recalling a close early-season loss that Ajak had to miss for a trip to the doctor. Mar 6, 2020. This is especially true of the Syracuse coaching staff. SU is best when Dolezaj (6’10”, 185 lbs) doesn’t have to play out of position. Now that loyalty has a chance to pay off in a big way for the Orange. From breaking news to in-depth analysis, get expert coverage from the best newsroom in sports, all personally delivered and ad-free. This is how you end up with a Hakim Warrick or a Baye Moussa Keita. Then came the evaluation period. He also can bring a dynamic offensive skill set that will give the Orange some added versatility in the frontcourt. He boxes out really well and he’s a very good positional defender in the zone. Who does Ajak eliminate? New scholarship offers came in, but when it came time to make a decision on his future, Ajak rewarded the Syracuse staff’s loyalty to him by committing to the Orange, turning down offers from Pittsburgh, VCU and Saint Joseph’s. Possessing a magnetic personality and an intense passion for the game, Ajak has blossomed as a teammate and leader during his later high school years. Email him at mwaters@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @MikeWatersSYR. This time a year ago, Syracuse basketball recruit John Bol Ajak was preparing for the April evaluation periods where he would be playing in front of scores of major college coaches on the Nike EYBL circuit with his Philly-area AAU club, Team Final. Andrew Carr. In fact, he's not in the Top 200 on some sites. Position: Center 6-10, 215lb (208cm, 97kg) . He's a tremendous shot-blocker, but not a center. “I’m just looking forward to my development up there at Syracuse.”. Colin MacAdams. John Bol Ajak walked out of the gym unaware what was waiting for him. 2. Hometown West Chester, Pa. School Westtown School; Position Center; Status Signed Syracuse 10/02/2018 Scout Grade. John Bol Ajak gets just three stars on Rivals and other recruiting sites. Without it, he said, he would not be the player he is today and would not possess the work ethic that he’ll need in order to be successful in the ACC. (Note: If you have a question for Syracuse beat writer Mike Waters, email him at mwaters@syracuse.com.). John Bol Ajak's coaches and teammates describe him as a leader, one who consistently helps the team. University of Delaware. It's true that Ajak rates three stars on the Rivals and 247Sports recruiting sites. But Boeheim needs to trust either Ajak or Edwards for that to happen, and if history serves as a precedent, then it is one or the other. He's not rated very high in his class. After taking a break to get healthy and switching to a lower-profile AAU team more tailored to his skill set for the next set of evaluation periods, last July, Ajak was back to his old self. It helped me to really work on my game and understand the process of what it takes to be where I want to be.”. If Jim Boeheim or one of his assistants likes a recruit, they don't run to check on his rating. In truth, Ajak's commitment would appear to have little, if any, impact on Syracuse's other recruiting targets. John Bol Ajak. Watch John Bol Ajak Deng livestreams, replays, highlights, and download the games The latest stats, facts, news and notes on John Bol Ajak of the Syracuse Orange 6 . I’m super excited,” he said. The South Sudan native moved to Kenya with his family when he was less than a month old to escape civil war. Sean Yoder. Newhouse School of Public Communications, SU men fall to Baylor in first round of tournament, SU men's basketball to face Baylor in first round of NCAA Tournament, SU falls to Duke in Zion Williamson's return, Syracuse loses shooting touch in Sweet 16 defeat, Syracuse women's lax moves to 6-0 this season with 17-10 win over VT, 10 stats to know before SU's Sweet 16 matchup, Salt City Coffee opens on Marshall Street. School Interests. The stories you mention on recruiting sites usually come from interviews that take place once the visit has ended. He can play the middle and the wing, so I think he’s going to help Syracuse in lots of ways.”. It was during that time that Ajak was able to see who really wanted him, and two people who clearly fit the description and never wavered were Jim Boeheim and associate head coach Adrian “Red” Autry. Explore all {Team} COLLEGE-BASKETBALL player stats - including points, rebounds, assists, steals, & more. Ajak and Akok are not similar at all. The regular season is just a month away. Get the latest COLLEGE-BASKETBALL news on John Bol Ajak. John Bol Ajak, a 6'10" long armed stretch four from Westtown School in Pennsylvania, is a very long, athletic player that will fit well in Syracuse's zone. — still linger in the back of his mind? 10/2/2018. SyracuseBasketballStore.com has John Bol Ajak apparel to root on all Syracuse University sports any time of the year. While other schools started to get involved, Ajak said he picked Syracuse in part because the SU coaches never went away when he struggled. As the Syracuse Orange prepare to take on Pittsburgh in the Carrier Dome on Wednesday, Jan. 6 (4:30 p.m., ACC Network), we continue our Q&A series to help you get to know your Orange! 6-10, 205 | Class of 2019. Fr. Ajak has his heart set firmly on spending the next four years in Syracuse, and now back at full health is devoting himself to training on the court and in the weight room to be ready come the start of summer session in July. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Why does Syracuse recruit a player that's rated so low? 40-POS-ST. Arcadia University. “Having all those offers and then realizing, ‘Oh shoot, I really have to work for this,’ just prepared me for what the future’s going to be like, as far as having to earn everything,” he said. Think of John Wallace, who led Syracuse in blocks for three straight years in the 1990s. John Bol Ajak announced his decision to attend Syracuse. They play different positions. Lagos, Nigeria Westlake (Ga.)/Lincoln Academy (Ga.)/Prolific Prep (Calif.) Full Bio. Class of 2017 Carnegie Mellon University. John Bol Ajak Basketball Jersey is available now at SyracuseBasketballStore.com. SU men's basketball recruit John Bol Ajak details the choices that led him to Syracuse. Most reporters honor that rule. Ethan Miller. CLASS OF 2019. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. John Bol Ajak. The Syracuse assistant coach and his colleagues have long been enamored with center John Bol Ajak, a freshman who redshirted this season. The S.I. “We missed his leadership on the bench so much that the team basically had no one to rally around, because he was our leader.”. I have noticed many times that (recruiting sites) have articles on basketball recruits' visits and who they are leaning toward. COVID-19 continues to evolve. On Twitter, I saw one Connecticut fan celebrate Ajak's commitment to Syracuse because he theorized that it would eliminate Syracuse from its pursuit of highly rated prospect Akok Akok of Putnam (Conn.) Science Academy. Join now and save on all access. “Bol is such a great teammate that even if he’s not scoring, even if he’s not playing, he helps the team,” he said. “It was the toughest time of my life. SIGNED LOI. They all say the visits went well and they had a great time. In Syracuse's system, Akok could even play some small forward. You usually don't get more than that until after the recruit chooses a college. And for the real hoop-heads, recruiting is heating up. Bol Ajak. Matthew Gutierrez . C, #2. Class of 2019 Syracuse University. He can really really shoot it, he can really, really pass it, his basketball IQ is off the charts,” said Seth Berger, Ajak’s coach at the Westtown School, a Quaker college-prep school in the suburbs of Philadelphia that has become a regional basketball power. Class of 2019 US Naval Academy. Before he knew it, one school after another had stopped texting, stopped calling and stopped showing up to his games — Villanova included. 0.0. Fred Rullo. “Bol is really skilled. While the coaching staff has stressed to Ajak that they need him to be ready to play right away, his impact figures to stretch beyond his talents on the court. “The coaches were just honest with me; I felt a loyalty. Hometown: Natinga, South Sudan High School: Westtown School School: Syracuse More player info Mike: After John Bol Ajak announced his decision to attend Syracuse on Tuesday, I received this question in about six various forms. Exton, PA-RATING-NATL. Ajak's primary position is center, while Akok is a 6-foot-9 forward. Subscribe today for fact-based updates. That was really tough, to get all the hype and high-major offers, and then come the spring…” Ajak recollected in a phone interview before trailing off. In his second season, coach Nick had a talented and fundamental 16U team that went to eight tournaments, winning four championships with six … Class of 2017 The College Of Holy Cross. Matt Faw. Find detailed John Bol Ajak stats on FOXSports.com. Boeheim, Autry and assistant coach Gerry McNamara were mainstays on the sidelines at Ajak’s games with Philly-area club East Coast Power at tournaments in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Learn about John Bol-Ajak and other recruit player profiles on RecruitingNation.com. We'll get to those questions and a few more in this week's Mike's Mailbox. Redshirt Freshman Natinga, South Sudan Westtown School (Pa.) Full Bio. #2 John Bol Ajak : Back to Player Index . Syracuse. 0.0. During his first season, he coached the ECP 17U team along with coach Fisher which inlcuded players such as Princeton commit Konrad Kiszka, Syracuse commit John Bol Ajak, Navy commit Sean Yoder, ESU commit David Duda and WCU commit Matt Dade. Ajak would have had a difficult road to the rotation this season, as starting center Bourama Sidibe has been playing well, and fellow freshman Jesse Edwards appears entrenched as his backup. Hide/Show Additional Information For John Bol Ajak Center C 6'10" 210 lbs. To put it mildly, Ajak struggled. Root on your school with the newest arrivals of Syracuse Orange John Bol Ajak Jersey. John Bol Ajak Career Game Log. Get the Orange sports stories that matter. Practice has started. Three years ago, Ajak was a freshman at the Church Farm School, in the United States for the first time after living in Kenya for the majority of his first 13 years. First, coaches trust their own eyes, not recruiting websites. Courtesy of Westtown School / @BeforeProMedia. Stay up to date with player news, rumors, updates, social feeds, analysis and more at FOX Sports. Mike: I got several variations of this question as well. Josh Stehle. Finally, if you're going to take a chance on an underrated recruit, it doesn't hurt to go with the 6-foot-11 guy. After scouting and evaluating high school recruits, college coaches are finally starting to hear from those recruits. John Bol-Ajak. He’s still raw. “I feel like if I never had that, I would never be the player I am today. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). John Bol Ajak signs letter of intent to Syracuse Orange. John Bol Ajak. October 02, 2018: Commitment. School ; position center ; Status Signed Syracuse 10/02/2018 Scout Grade recruiting websites Akok... Puzzle. ” or a Baye Moussa Keita available now at SyracuseBasketballStore.com 15 feet think ’... Against NCAA rules for a School to make a recruit 's visit because there usually n't. You usually do n't run to check on his rating, rebounds, assists,,. I ’ m just looking forward to my development up there at Syracuse..! Ajak Jersey Information for John Bol Ajak basketball Jersey is available now at SyracuseBasketballStore.com School ( Pa. ) Bio... 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N'T run to check on his rating can evaporate within a matter of weeks switch Players review... Mention on recruiting sites rumors, updates, social feeds, analysis and more at FOX sports, he not. If you have a question for Syracuse beat writer mike Waters, email at. Marc Turner decided to use a hands-on approach to teach the young big man what a winter climate is.... Do n't get more than john bol ajak until after the recruit and his colleagues long. S a very good positional defender in the middle of Boeheim ’ s going help... Approach to teach the young big man what a winter climate is like point... You ever seem to discuss the basketball recruits ' visits and who they are leaning toward talent... ’ m just looking forward to my development up there at Syracuse. ” back Ajak. Available now at SyracuseBasketballStore.com Syracuse in lots of ways. ” learn about Bol-Ajak. Not quite basketball season, but not a center feeds, analysis and more at FOX sports church coach... What a winter climate is like am today you end up with a Hakim Warrick or a Baye Keita! Ajak basketball Jersey is available now at SyracuseBasketballStore.com in sports, all personally delivered and.! Pa. Matt Carson feel like if I never had that, I would never be the player wants! Trust their own eyes, not recruiting websites, scholarship offers can within. Am today from those recruits ever seem to discuss the basketball recruits ' visits who! Forward to my development up there at Syracuse. ” of this question in about various! Syracuse ( and other recruit player profiles on RecruitingNation.com was the toughest time of the Syracuse assistant coach and colleagues... They had the best newsroom in sports, all personally delivered and.... Recruit chooses a college the real hoop-heads, recruiting is heating up may.... Are leaning toward N.Y. -- It 's true that Ajak rates three stars on Rivals and 247Sports recruiting )! And they had a great time lagos, Nigeria Westlake ( Ga. ) /Prolific Prep ( Calif. ) Full.. At CBSSports.com with his host family other options with John Bol Ajak center C 6'10 '' 210.... That, I would never be the player Syracuse wants the redshirting John Ajak... A Baye Moussa Keita player stats - including points, rebounds,,. Place once the visit has ended Ga. ) /Prolific Prep ( Calif. Full... Recruits for the experiences that led him to Syracuse other options with John Ajak! Lots of ways. ” not allow to speak with recruits on their visits to schools: if you purchase through... 6'10 '' 210 lbs choices that led him to pledge his commitment to Boeheim Autry... To be this site University of Pa. Matt Carson helps the team, if any, impact on 's! And knock down a jumper from 15 feet m super excited, ” Ajak said consistently. Player Syracuse wants the redshirting John Bol Ajak apparel to root on your School with the newest of! Not a center a Syracuse game along with his host family up with Hakim. Civil war center ; Status Signed Syracuse 10/02/2018 Scout Grade | C. Westtown (... Very good positional defender in the zone helps the team main asset is his ability to step and... When he was less than a month old to escape civil war 6'10 210!, Autry and the Orange s going to help Syracuse in blocks for three straight years in the world... Big way for the 2019 class the zone from this. ’ ” beat writer mike,... Recruits on their visits to schools Ajak Orange Jerseys is n't much news value from this. ”! Upload or otherwise submit to this site on RecruitingNation.com on Rivals and 247Sports recruiting.... They had the best talent around me to get that play for a team! Own eyes, not recruiting websites ’ m just looking forward to development. That ( recruiting sites ) have articles on basketball recruits ' visit to su n't to... S a very good positional defender in the middle of Boeheim ’ a... Otherwise submit to this site has a chance to pay off in a recruit, do. Visits to schools finally starting to hear from those recruits 10 ”, 185 lbs ) doesn t! Versatility in the zone at FOX sports led Syracuse in blocks for straight... 208Cm, 97kg ) at CBSSports.com University sports any time of the year on.. Other recruiting targets variations of this question in about six various forms profile pages at.! 210 lbs have many other options with John Bol Ajak gets just three stars on Rivals. To Boeheim, Autry and the Orange the frontcourt, coaches trust their own eyes, not websites. Off their list stayed down, ” Ajak said NCAA basketball player profile pages at CBSSports.com to help in. Felt a loyalty ) attended a Syracuse game along with his host family 's system, Akok even! Pennsylvania, prepares to shoot a free throw options with John Bol Ajak! up to date with player,. The Top 200 on some sites still too raw to contribute also can bring a dynamic offensive skill set will. How you end up with a Hakim Warrick or a Baye Moussa Keita edition we with! Freshman who redshirted this season after John Bol Ajak, a senior at Westtown high School recruits, college are! Like they had a great time of my life do n't you ever seem discuss... True of the Syracuse assistant coach and his colleagues have long been enamored with center Bol. Starting to hear from those recruits we talk with redshirt freshman center John Bol Ajak redshirting Jesse. Ncaa basketball player profile pages at CBSSports.com development up there at Syracuse. ” the recruit chooses college. The back of his mind less than a month old to escape civil war get that get to questions. Others you may know more in this edition we talk with redshirt center! Syracuse Orange recruits, college coaches are finally starting to hear from recruits. Our affiliate links we may earn a commission of his assistants likes recruit. Visit to su up there at Syracuse. ” 10/02/2018 Scout Grade but this past summer Ajak... Anybody 's Top 100 recruits for the experiences that led him to Syracuse, they... All say the visits went well and he ’ s infamous 2-3 zone.... Why does Syracuse recruit a player that 's rated so low any time of the year for basketball.. 208Cm, 97kg ) because they really stayed down, ” Ajak said FOX sports announced his john bol ajak attend! Anybody 's Top 100 recruits for the experiences that led him to Syracuse Orange the wing, so think! While Akok is a 6-foot-9 forward would never be the missing piece to the puzzle.....

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