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Rodolfo Bolis was one of the first recruits head coach Marty Simmons brought in his first year here at Eastern Illinois in 2021.
Bolis has found himself a long way from his home in Espírito Santo, Brazil, thanks to his 6-feet-8-inch stature and physical style of play under the basket. He has made the most of his opportunities these past three years.
However, Bolis said he feels like he has something to prove during his senior year.
“This is my last year, and I want to make it special and leave everything I have out on the court this year,” Bolis said.
Bolis left his hometown for Mexico City, Mexico, to play high school basketball and attend NBA Academy Latin America where he could have a better opportunity of collegiate basketball programs recognizing him at a high level.
He averaged 15 points and eight rebounds through high school, earning a team captain role his senior year. Bolis was also chosen to the Brazil U15-U17 national team where he competed in the South American Championships.
When it came down to Bolis having to choose where he wanted to go to college, Eastern was at the top of that list.
“They truly made me feel like they cared not just about my abilities on the court but the ability to shine in the classroom,” Bolis said.
He said he had an instant connection with Simmons, as he was one of the first recruits he brought with him on his new stop.
“I love the way Ro [Bolis] plays: hard and physical,” Simmons said. “But it was his personality and his ability to connect with him as a person and not just as a player that made me want to bring him here.”
Once Bolis finally stepped foot on campus for the first time, it would also happen to be the first time he had been in the state. Bolis never visited Illinois until he came to campus for the first time.
“The whole experience was all new,” he said. “I had no idea where Charleston was but it feels like home to me now.”
It took Bolis a couple months to start adjusting to the American culture and lifestyle, especially when he was 5,049 miles from home.
“Adjusting to the culture here and just the overall vibe in America definitely takes time, at least it did for me too,” said Lazar Grbović, a redshirt junior from Belgrade, Serbia, and the only other international player on the EIU men’s basketball roster this year.
Once Bolis arrived at Eastern, he was here to stay. As soon as Bolis moved to Charleston, he hit the ground running – showing up early for summer workouts, taking extra reps during practice. In coach Simmons’ eyes, he was the perfect piece to the team he was trying to assemble, Simmons said.
“Ro [Bolis] never lacked effort,” Simmons said. “In fact, he was giving everything he had, day-in and day-out, and that’s something that has stayed consistent through his four years here. We all as a coaching staff admire it.”
Bolis started 18 games as a freshman, averaging 6.2 points and five rebounds a game, but he did not start a single game in his sophomore season, playing in only 10 games.
“My sophomore year was a year of learning not just about basketball but about myself,” Bolis said. “I used that year as fuel to be better.”
Bolis would do just that during his junior year when he played in 31 of the 32 games, starting 14. Bolis averaged 1.7 points a game and 3.3 rebounds a game, but it was Bolis’ defense that gave him an edge on the court. He recorded 22 blocks and 18 steals in the year.
“Getting back into the rotation was definitely a testament of all the work I put in over the offseason to get better,” Bolis said.
His teammates said they have seen his dedication to the team and to get better on the court.
“When I transferred to EIU, Ro [Bolis] was always in the gym working on his game,” senior guard Carson Prost said. “His love for the game and willingness to grind out when times get tough naturally drew me to him as a person, and he’s been one of my best friends I’ve made here at Eastern.”
Now going into his senior year, despite all of his ups and downs through the past three years, Bolis aims to make this year the best year yet.
“I want to give my heart to this game for all of the opportunities the game has given me and leave everything I have on the court this year,” Bolis said. “I don’t just want to make the tournament and lose in the first round like last year, I want to win it all. I want it bad not just for me but for coach who believed in me.”
Braden Boyer can be reached at 581-2812 or at bwboyer@eiu.edu.