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The UCF Knights’ Men’s Basketball program signed three players to begin the Basketball Signing Period on Thursday, filling some desperately needed holes left by multiple graduations and transfers. We’ve got a quick look at each.
Tony Johnson
Guard - Eufala, Alabama
It's official! Tony Johnson Jr. is a Knight!! ⚔️
— UCF Men’s Hoops (@UCF_MBB) April 18, 2019
Join us in welcoming @TonyJohnson_0 to the #UCFamily! ✊#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/nMJxz9hW0B
With B.J. Taylor departing and Terrell Allen exploring a transfer, Johnson was a critical get for Johnny Dawkins and the Knights.
Originally from Eufala, Alabama, which lies about midway between Dothan and Columbus, Georgia, Johnson moved to the Atlanta to Berkmar High School and then played for The Skills Factory.
Here’s Johnson when he played at Berkmar High School in 2017-18:
Johnson should fill the hole left by B.J. Taylor, and possibly Terrell Allen at the point too, if Allen does indeed transfer.
Avery Diggs
Center - Brandon. Florida (transfer from SW Mississippi JC)
Big Man on the way! @avery_diggs is a Knight and we can't wait to get him on campus!! ⚔️#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/NVoaXwqrz0
— UCF Men’s Hoops (@UCF_MBB) April 18, 2019
The 6-10 Diggs comes back to his home state from Southwest Misssissippi Junior College, which is one of the outstanding JC programs in the nation.
He originally went to USC-Upstate, but left for junior college where he averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game to go with 1.4 blocks.
Highlights:
He should provide some size (his wingspan is an even 7 feet) and experience down low that was much needed with the graduations of Chad Brown and Tacko Fall.
Moses Bol
Center - Wau, Sudan (Colby Community College)
More size to the mix!
— UCF Men’s Hoops (@UCF_MBB) April 18, 2019
7-foot-1 Moses Bol is now a Knight!! ⚔️#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/jvZuQk9tFe
If Moses Bol’s last name sounds familiar, it should. He’s a cousin of the late Manute Bol, the legendary 7-6 center who played alongside Johnny Dawkins in Philadelphia in the early ‘90s.
Bol played two years at Colby Community College in Kansas. Last year he started 24 of his 25 games, averaging 5.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 18 minutes per game.
Here’s his mixtape from this past year:
Don’t draw the Tacko comparisons yet. That’s too easy. But UCF desperately needed a rim protector, and Bol, alongside TCU transfer Yuat Alok and Avery Diggs, should fit in nicely in the paint.