UCF Men's Basketball Retains Pair Of Centers

John Bol and Elijah Hulsewe will return to the Knights' frontcourt for the 2026-27 season.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a college basketball game, with sharp, overlapping shapes in the official colors of the UCF Knights - black, gold, and white.The return of veteran centers John Bol and Elijah Hulsewe gives UCF's frontcourt a strong foundation as the Knights aim to build on last season's performance.Today in Orlando

The UCF men's basketball team announced that centers John Bol and Elijah Hulsewe will be returning to the team for the 2026-27 season. Bol, a transfer from Ole Miss, started for the Knights last season and averaged 5.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Hulsewe, a transfer from Bethune-Cookman, saw increased playing time late in the season due to injuries on the team.

Why it matters

Retaining Bol and Hulsewe provides stability and experience in the Knights' frontcourt as they look to build on last season's performance. Their return, along with other key players like Carmelo Pacheco and Arturo Dean, gives UCF a solid core to work with as they aim to compete in the American Athletic Conference.

The details

John Bol announced his return for his junior season on the team's social media, saying 'Knight Nation, you all 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 led the Knights with 35 blocks and a 71.7% field goal percentage last season. Elijah Hulsewe, who redshirted his first season at UCF, will also be back for his third year with the team. Hulsewe's experience and ability to convey drills to the team will be valuable, especially with the departure of guard Poohpha Warakulnukroh.

  • Bol and Hulsewe announced their returns on April 15, 2026.
  • Bol and Hulsewe will be back for the 2026-27 season.

The players

John Bol

A transfer from Ole Miss, Bol started for the Knights last season and averaged 5.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He led the team with 35 blocks and a 71.7% field goal percentage.

Elijah Hulsewe

A transfer from Bethune-Cookman, Hulsewe redshirted his first season at UCF in 2024-25 and saw increased playing time late in the 2025-26 season due to injuries on the team. He will be the Knights' longest-tenured player in 2026-27.

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What they’re saying

“Knight Nation, you all 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.”

— John Bol

“It's been fun watching him develop and grow. I mean, the young man's gotten better and better, but he has an unbelievable work ethic and he wants to be great. It's a great combination, the ability to work really hard and you have a goal in sight that you want to reach, and that's what John's been doing all season long, and that's why I think he's been improving throughout the year.”

— Johnny Dawkins, UCF Head Coach

The takeaway

Retaining Bol and Hulsewe gives UCF a strong frontcourt foundation as they look to build on last season's performance. Their experience and development will be key as the Knights aim to compete in the American Athletic Conference.