In the following year, when Bol was two years old, his family moved to Connecticut as designated political refugees.[1] Upon encouragement from his father, he began playing basketball at age four, although he was initially reluctant.[2] Bol eventually began training with his father in the gym.[3][5] At age seven, he moved to Olathe, Kansas, a city with a large South Sudanese population.[5] As a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) seventh grader, Bol featured in a highlight video[6] at an Indianapolis basketball camp that drew attention from CBS Sports[7] and The Washington Post.[8] His first NCAA Division I offer came from New Mexico State, when he was still in the eighth grade.[9]