Bol Kuir is the leader in the state in rebound.
On the first possession of a 15th region quarterfinal game Tuesday night, one of the top players in the region stood above the foul line as part of a 2-3 zone.
Bol Kuir was 21 inches taller than the Belfry center.
Kuir was at 7-foot-3 anddwarfed the player he was playing against. Kuir's size and unique ability is drawing attention from defenders trying to stop him, from basketball fans across the state, and from colleges.
Bol Kuir is a 'unicorn' in the mountains.
Can Bol Kuir help Belfry make history?
Here is what to know about Kuir.
The first year of high school basketball.
South Sudan was locked in a civil war from 2013 to 2020 and Kuir is a native of that country. He came to the United States about two and a half years ago after living in West Virginia with a guardian.
He was on the West Virginia Generals team. Kuir and his guardian moved to Kentucky after he was ruled ineligible to play high school basketball in West Virginia, and Kuir attended Belfry, a school of about 600 students.
Belfry is a small community in Pike County. Some students who attend Belfry live in West Virginia.
At Belfry High, which is about five minutes from where Kuir lives, the 7-footer and his teammate, a sophomore point guard, played together.
Kuir is a junior at a high school and playing basketball in his first year of organized high school basketball.
Bol Kuir is flat-footed as he blocks a shot.
The impact on the court.
NBA fans call players like Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks, who is also 7-foot-3, a "unicorn" because they are tall and versatile.
Kuir is able to grab the rebound. He racked up 42 in one double-overtime game, the second most in state history, and his 14.0 average leads the state. He scores 14 points per game.
Belfry coach Mark Thompson said that Kuir, who was triple-teamed at times, was instrumental in the team's 63-48 win.
Thompson said that he is drawing so much attention that it opens it up for everyone else.
7-foot basketball player cuts down net without ladder as Kentucky school wins district
A Kentucky high schooler grabbed 42 rebound in a game, second most in state history.
Kuir can dunk very easily, which is to be expected, but he has been able to penetrate and score from the perimeter, as well as knock down a few 3-pointers, which is rare for someone of his size.
Thompson said that he is a legit 7-3 and that he has good feet, jumps well and moves well.
Which NBA players do Kuir like?
Kuir liked soccer and basketball. The only basketball players he heard about were Manute Bol and Luol Deng.
He said that he now enjoys watching basketball players like Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
What are the next steps?
Kuir is still growing accustomed to the sport, even though he wows in games. Thompson said he will make plays that shock the coaching staff.
In practice, we are looking at each other and wondering if that just happened. Did he just do that? Thompson said something.
The 15th region semifinals will be played on Friday. The winner will go to the regional final.
Belfry will have a strong team next year, as it will return three starters: Kuir, Dean and De' mahjae Clark, who all scored in Tuesday's game.
Kuir is new to basketball and this is his first year of high school, but he has begun to receive interest from several Division I colleges over the past couple of months. It is likely that he will receive a DI scholarship offer soon as the restrictions on travel have been lifted.
He will be playing for the Atlanta Celtics this summer, which is the same club program that had several future NBA players, including former UK star Randolph Morris, as well as Josh Smith and top NBA draft pick Dwight Howard.
Thompson thinks that once college coaches are allowed to be in the gym and see him, it will pick up.
Kuir said he was looking forward to working out, practicing his post moves and shooting a 3-point jump shot. He wants to play pro basketball.
Kuir wants to go to college first, then try to go to the league.
Thompson, a long time coach, said he's never seen anything like Kuir, a super- tall athlete with "such a pretty shot," and he said it's been a treat to watch him and the Belfry team develop.
Normally as a basketball coach, you wouldn't see a kid like that. The kid has been fun to watch. To watch my kids, the kids I have coached for years, bring him in and make him a part of who we are and care for each other the way they do, is more than just basketball.
The person can be reached at hgardner@gannett.com.
Bol Kuir is a 7-foot-3 Eastern Kentucky Belfry basketball star.
