Rasir Bolton

Last updated
Rasir Bolton
Rasir Bolton Gonzaga (cropped).jpg
Bolton with Gonzaga in 2021
No. 45Napoli Basket
Position Point guard
League Lega Basket Serie A
Personal information
Born (1999-09-27) September 27, 1999 (age 25)
Petersburg, Virginia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft 2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–2024 Antwerp Giants
2024–2025 Spartak Subotica
2025–present Napoli Basket
Career highlights

Rasir Zias Bolton (born September 27, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for GeVi Napoli of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Iowa State Cyclones, and Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Contents

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

Bolton with Penn State in 2019 Rasir Bolton.jpg
Bolton with Penn State in 2019

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] Over 28 games with Antwerp, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. [15] He was named the BNXT League Dream Team for the 2023–24 season.

On June 20, 2024, Bolton signed a contract with the Serbian team Spartak Subotica. [16]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2018–19 Penn State 32926.9.383.361.8762.01.5.6.111.6
2019–20 Iowa State 303030.8.404.336.8483.42.81.1.114.7
2020–21 Iowa State 212033.0.459.314.8434.83.91.3.115.5
2021–22 Gonzaga 323227.3.502.460.8172.42.3.6.011.2
2022–23 Gonzaga 373726.1.438.388.7821.92.5.8.110.1
Career15212828.4.433.378.8372.72.5.8.112.3

Personal life

Bolton's father, Ray, played college basketball at Bethune–Cookman before becoming a high school coach. [17] His older brother, Resean, played basketball for Alderson Broaddus University. [18]

References

  1. Herron, Jack (April 20, 2017). "Recruiting Report: Rasir Bolton (2018)". Prep Hoops. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  2. "MMA's postgrad basketball team has a clear leader in Rasir Bolton". Massanutten Military Academy. January 28, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  3. Fauber, Brad (January 27, 2018). "Taking Control: Bolton assumes leadership role for MMA's postgrad basketball team". The Northern Virginia Daily . Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. King, Tyler (July 27, 2017). "New commit Rasir Bolton will bring three-level scoring to Penn State men's basketball". Daily Collegian . Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  5. Markulics, Chad (July 23, 2017). "2018 Virginia Guard Rasir Bolton Commits to Penn State". Roar Lions Roar. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  6. "Bolton leads Penn State to 76-65 win over Colgate". ESPN . Associated Press. December 8, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  7. Hines, Travis (July 6, 2020). "Iowa State guard Rasir Bolton says he transferred from Penn State after Pat Chambers made 'noose' remark". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  8. Washington, Jesse (July 6, 2020). "Noose comment by Penn State basketball coach points to larger NCAA problem". Andscape . Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  9. "Cyclones Fall In Final Seconds To Florida A&M, 70-68". Iowa State University Athletics. December 31, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  10. Visser, Ben (November 16, 2020). "Rasir Bolton needs 'to take the next step' for Iowa State men's basketball". The Gazette . Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  11. Meehan, Jim (April 30, 2021). "Gonzaga lands Iowa State transfer guard Rasir Bolton". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  12. Ali, Asher (May 31, 2022). "Rasir Bolton back for Zags next season after removing name from draft". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  13. Lawson, Theo (April 10, 2023). "Gonzaga's Rasir Bolton selected to participate in Portsmouth Invitational". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. Lawson, Theo (July 23, 2023). "Gonzaga's Rasir Bolton inks contract with Antwerp Giants of Belgian league". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  15. Forsman, Cole (2 May 2024). "Former Gonzaga guard Rasir Bolton named MVP finalist of BNXT League". si.com. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  16. Forsman, Cole (20 June 2024). "Former Gonzaga guard Rasir Bolton signs with Serbian club in ABA League". si.com. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  17. Jones, David (November 14, 2018). "Rasir Bolton might be a raw rookie, but for Penn State basketball he's already a cool commander". The Patriot-News . Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  18. "Phenom Hoop Report catches up with Bishop Sullivan fast rising star". Phenom Hoop Report. November 4, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2021.