Joel Bolomboy (2024) - Hall of Fame - Weber State University Athletics

Joel Bolomboy

Induction:
2024
Class:
2016

Joel Bolomboy was a standout player for the Weber State men’s basketball team from 2012-16. He was a conference MVP, a three-time All-Big Sky performer, a school and conference record holder, and helped the Wildcats to two Big Sky titles and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. He was also drafted in the NBA Draft.

He was a three-time All-Big Sky performer, including a unanimous selection as a senior in 2015-16 when he was also named the Big Sky Most Valuable Player. He was also twice named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, the only Wildcat and one of just four players in Big Sky history to earn the honor twice. He led the Big Sky in rebounding his final three seasons, one of just three players in conference history to do so.

He finished his career as Weber State’s and the Big Sky Conference’s all-time leader in rebounds, totaling 1,312 rebounds in his four-year career, a record that still stands (as of 2024). He recorded more rebounds than any player that has ever played college basketball for a school in Utah and broke the WSU school record for rebounds which was held since 1971.

Bolomboy is also Weber State’s career leader in blocked shots with 179 and is first in WSU history in career free throw attempts with 651. He finished his career with 54 career double-doubles.

He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz and played two seasons in the NBA with Utah and Milwaukee. He then went on to a long professional playing career in Russia and Greece, and is currently playing in Serbia.

During his senior season, he earned first-team All-District honors and was one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year award. He helped lead the Wildcats to 26 wins, including the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. During the season he finished third in the nation in rebounding at 12.6 per game and set a new WSU single-season record with 415 rebounds. He also finished third in the country in double-doubles with 26.

He earned second-team All-Big Sky and All-District honors as a junior in 2014-15, while finishing 12th in the country in rebounds.

As a sophomore in 2013-14, Bolomboy earned honorable mention all-conference honors and was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year after finishing third in the nation in rebounding at 11.0 per game. He also helped lead the Wildcats to the Big Sky title, the tournament title, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

A Ukrainian-born Russian, Bolomboy came to Weber State from Fort Worth, Texas, and began his Wildcat career in 2012. He played in all 37 games as a true freshman for the Wildcats that season and helped lead the Wildcats to a record-setting 30-7 record.

He played in 130 career games, currently tied for the fourth-most in WSU history, and started in 91 games. As of 2024, he ranked in the WSU career top 10 in nine categories.