Men’s basketball coach Barry Hinson’s future frontcourt got deeper on Tuesday.

Iowa Western Community College forward Thik Bol, a 6-foot-8 forward has verbally committed to SIU, according to Verbal Commits.

He averaged 10.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game while playing 8.2 minutes per game for Iowa Western last year.

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Bol started 29 of his team’s 31 games en route to a 24-5 record and a No. 15 NJCAA ranking.

Bol led the nation with 4.9 blocks per game and was All-Region XI Second Team his freshman year for the Reivers.

After the departure of senior centers Ibby Djimde and Deng Leek, there were just four players left on the roster who are 6-foot-7 or taller: freshmen forwards Austin Weiher and Rudy Stradnieks, junior forward Sean O’Brien and junior center Bola Olaniyan.

Bol will have two years of eligibility at SIU.

He chose SIU while holding other offers from Wichita State, Louisiana Tech and Oakland. He also took an unofficial visit to Iowa State.

With Bol’s commitment the Salukis have one more scholarship to use toward the 2016 season.

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Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307.