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Men’s Basketball Locks Up Three Critical Signees

Lots of size and a legit creator will help fill huge holes left by seniors.

Johnny Dawkins
UCF head basketball coach Johnny Dawkins talks to his team during a timeout in their game against UConn at CFE Arena.
Photo: Derek Warden

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

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)

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)

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.