Rasir Bolton Explained

Rasir Bolton
Number:45
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:185
Team:Spartak Subotica
League:ABA League
Birth Date:27 September 1999
Birth Place:Petersburg, Virginia, U.S.
Nationality:American
High School:
College:
Draft Year:2023
Career Start:2023
Years1:2023–2024
Team1:Antwerp Giants
Highlights:
Years2:2024–present
Team2:Spartak Subotica

Rasir Zias Bolton (born September 27, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for KK Spartak Subotica of the ABA League and KLS. He played college basketball for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Iowa State Cyclones, and Gonzaga Bulldogs.

High school career

Bolton attended four different high schools during his first three years, often leaving due to changes in coaching or the athletic department.[1] For his senior season, he transferred to Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia.[2] He played a postgraduate season at the school.[3] He competed for Team Loaded VA on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[4] Bolton committed to playing college basketball for Penn State over offers from Clemson, Saint Joseph's, Virginia Tech and VCU, among others.[5]

College career

On December 8, 2018, Bolton scored a freshman season-high 27 points, shooting 7-of-9 from three-point range, in a 76–65 win over Colgate.[6] As a freshman at Penn State, he averaged 11.6 points, before transferring to Iowa State.[7] Bolton later said that he left Penn State because head coach Pat Chambers told him "I want to loosen the noose that's around your neck" in January 2019.[8] On December 31, 2019, he recorded a career-high 29 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 70–68 loss to Florida A&M.[9] As a sophomore, Bolton averaged 14.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.[10] In his junior season, he averaged 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, earning Third Team All-Big 12 honors. After the season, Bolton transferred to Gonzaga.[11] He averaged 11.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as a senior. Bolton declared for the 2022 NBA draft before returning to Gonzaga for his fifth season of eligibility.[12] He averaged 10.1 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game in his final season.[13]

Professional career

On July 23, 2023, Bolton signed a contract with Telenet Giants Antwerp of the BNXT League.[14]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Penn State| 32 || 9 || 26.9 || .383 || .361 || .876 || 2.0 || 1.5 || .6 || .1 || 11.6|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Iowa State| 30 || 30 || 30.8 || .404 || .336 || .848 || 3.4 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .1 || 14.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Iowa State| 21 || 20 || 33.0 || .459 || .314 || .843 || 4.8 || 3.9 || 1.3 || .1 || 15.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Gonzaga| 32 || 32 || 27.3 || .502 || .460 || .817 || 2.4 || 2.3 || .6 || .0 || 11.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Gonzaga| 37 || 37 || 26.1 || .438 || .388 || .782 || 1.9 || 2.5 || .8 || .1 || 10.1|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 152 || 128 || 28.4 || .433 || .378 || .837 || 2.7 || 2.5 || .8 || .1 || 12.3

Personal life

Bolton's father, Ray, played college basketball at Bethune–Cookman before becoming a high school coach.[15] His older brother, Resean, played basketball for Alderson Broaddus University.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Herron . Jack . Recruiting Report: Rasir Bolton (2018) . Prep Hoops . April 16, 2021 . April 20, 2017.
  2. Web site: MMA's postgrad basketball team has a clear leader in Rasir Bolton . . April 16, 2021 . January 28, 2018.
  3. Web site: Fauber . Brad . Taking Control: Bolton assumes leadership role for MMA's postgrad basketball team . . April 16, 2021 . January 27, 2018.
  4. Web site: King . Tyler . New commit Rasir Bolton will bring three-level scoring to Penn State men's basketball . . May 1, 2021 . July 27, 2017.
  5. Web site: Markulics . Chad . 2018 Virginia Guard Rasir Bolton Commits to Penn State . Roar Lions Roar . April 16, 2021 . July 23, 2017.
  6. Web site: Bolton leads Penn State to 76-65 win over Colgate . . . May 1, 2021 . December 8, 2018.
  7. Web site: Hines . Travis . Iowa State guard Rasir Bolton says he transferred from Penn State after Pat Chambers made 'noose' remark . . May 1, 2021 . July 6, 2020.
  8. Web site: Washington . Jesse . Noose comment by Penn State basketball coach points to larger NCAA problem . . May 1, 2021 . July 6, 2020.
  9. Web site: Cyclones Fall In Final Seconds To Florida A&M, 70-68 . Iowa State University Athletics . May 1, 2021 . December 31, 2019.
  10. Web site: Visser . Ben . Rasir Bolton needs 'to take the next step' for Iowa State men's basketball . . May 1, 2021 . November 16, 2020.
  11. Web site: Meehan . Jim . Gonzaga lands Iowa State transfer guard Rasir Bolton . . May 1, 2021 . April 30, 2021.
  12. News: Ali . Asher . Rasir Bolton back for Zags next season after removing name from draft . March 14, 2024 . . May 31, 2022.
  13. News: Lawson . Theo . Gonzaga’s Rasir Bolton selected to participate in Portsmouth Invitational . March 14, 2024 . . April 10, 2023.
  14. News: Lawson . Theo . Gonzaga’s Rasir Bolton inks contract with Antwerp Giants of Belgian league . March 14, 2024 . . July 23, 2023.
  15. Web site: Jones . David . Rasir Bolton might be a raw rookie, but for Penn State basketball he's already a cool commander . . April 16, 2021 . November 14, 2018.
  16. Web site: Phenom Hoop Report catches up with Bishop Sullivan fast rising star . Phenom Hoop Report . April 16, 2021 . November 4, 2016.