Riek still learning game but can't teach size (he's 7-2)

At 7-2, Bol Riek is accustomed to stares from curious onlookers. At an AAU tournament earlier this month in Dallas, fans asked for photos with him. His Indiana Elite coach, Ryan Owens, laughed when Riek jokingly told them, "For five dollars."

His height is not the only reason Riek is generating attention. The South Sudan native has piqued the interest of several college coaches this spring, playing with the Indiana Elite 2017 squad. Riek has early interest from Bradley, Indiana, Indiana State, Purdue and Xavier.

"I can tell I've been getting a lot better," Riek said. "Playing (AAU) has helped me a lot. I face the top players and they make you work. I'm tall so I thought it was going to be pretty easy. But they push me a lot. It makes me know when I get back (to school) what I need to do to get better."

Riek, who came to the United States through the AHOPE program, has only been playing basketball for about two-and-a-half years. He attends Mooseheart High School in Batavia, Ill., but was unable to play last season after Illinois' high school association restricted the eligibility of international students.

Basketball wasn't Riek's sport of choice growing up – it was soccer.

"I'd play soccer all day," he said. "I started getting tall and people started to talk to me and tell me I was going to be good at basketball so I should check it out. I came here and saw a lot of people took it serious so I said, 'I'm going to take it serious, too.'"

Owens said Riek's offensive ability is blossoming, though he is still learning many of the basketball basics that kids in the U.S. learn at a much earlier stage. Riek said he must become a stronger presence on defense. He showed a nice touch around the basket this weekend at the Adidas Gauntlet event in Fishers and Noblesville.

"I'm 7-3 so I have to block everything," he said. "I need to work on that. I've been working on my offensive play, but I need to work on my defense to bring it all together."

*Tech rising senior point guard C.J. Walker picked up two more offers - from Iowa and Pitt - after his play in the EYBL tournament in Lexington, Ky., this weekend. Walker, a 6-foot point guard and former Purdue recruit, said last week that Butler, Florida State, Wichita State and Xavier are standing out as potential destinations, although he's keeping an open mind.