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Chicago • Purdue's Caleb Swanigan couldn't believe what he saw.
Taking a post entry pass, Weber State's Joel Bolomboy spun baseline past Kentucky's Marcus Lee. He jumped, and realized at the last second his shot was going to be blocked. So Bolomboy adjusted in midair, taking the ball underneath the rim and dunking it on the other side.
As the 6-foot-10 Bolomboy floated back down to the floor, those in attendance at the Multiquest Sports Complex gasped at the most spectacular play of Thursday's NBA pre-draft combine.
"I still don't know how he dunked it," Swanigan said.
Faced with the task of making a name for himself, Bolomboy turned heads the only way he knows how on Thursday: with his athleticism, his rebounding and his ability to make hustle plays. The senior made his move over and around Lee, who's been one of the more recognizable names in college basketball the past few years.
Bolomboy went through measuring and testing later in the day. He registered a vertical leap of 40.5 inches, fifth-best at the combine. He also went through interviews with multiple teams, and expects to be in Salt Lake City for a workout with the Utah Jazz at some point in the pre-draft process.
"I felt like I did all I could with the minutes I received," Bolomboy said. "The minutes were pretty spread out, so I had to just go in there and play hard with every opportunity that I got. I thought the competition was really good, especially me being from Weber State. ... So it was good to get out here and experience something like this. This week is a blessing."
Bolomboy enters the week as a projected second-round pick. His objectives are clear: He has to impress the scouts and play to his strengths, all while proving his weaknesses have lessened.
It's a fine line for Bolomboy, but one he felt he handled well. He rebounded well, ran the floor, blocked shots and made an impact. He showcased his range, making an 18-foot jumper, along with the dunk that stole the show.
At the same time, Bolomboy didn't get many touches or opportunities to showcase his entire offensive game. He struggled at times to defend the perimeter, particularly against Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer.
"I thought he showed his athleticism today, which was good," Utah Jazz Vice President of Player Personnel Walt Perrin said. "The dunk was very nice. He played hard. I thought he shot it fair, he has to shoot the ball better. But I thought he competed defensively. His thing is going to be running the floor — he has to be able to run the floor and get himself easy baskets."
Bolomboy knows there are comparisons in the NBA to his style of play, notably players such asKenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets and Trevor Booker of the Jazz. Those are players who change the game with their energy, hustle and athleticism.
The hunger in Bolomboy lies in him being underrecruited out of high school and relatively anonymous through college. Bolomboy said he chose Weber State because of the family atmosphere. It's a decision he'll always be glad he made.
"They made me feel like I was a part of the team," Bolomboy said. "The coaching staff and coach (Randy) Rahe was good to me. They told me that I could come in and be a big part of the rotation right away, all I had to do was come in and earn my minutes. It was either Weber State or New Mexico. The coach at New Mexico [Steve Alford] ended up leaving for UCLA."
Bolomboy is also aware of the example set by Damian Lillard, the all-star point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers. He and Lillard speak as often as their schedules allow. They have worked out together over the summer in the past, and Lillard has often spoke with Bolomboy on what to expect from the pre-draft process.
Workouts over the next month will determine Bolomboy's fate. He knows he has come a long way, yet he has more work to do. Either way, he impressed on Thursday.
"He's really athletic," Swanigan said. "He plays hard and you can tell how mature he is. He's quiet. He's a good player."
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About Joel Bolomboy
• 6-foot-10 center was the Big Sky Player of the Year this season, leading Weber State to the NCAA Tournament
• Two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year is league's career leader in rebounds with 1,312, and also finished with 1,484 career points in 130 games.
• Projected second-round pick would join Damian Lillard as a former Wildcat in the NBA
• Was born in Russia, where his mother is from; his father is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo