Saturday, June 19, 2010
Bol dies after battle with disease

ESPN.com news services

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An associate of former NBA player Manute Bol says Bol has died at a Virginia hospital, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition known as Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome.

Sudan Sunrise executive director Tom Prichard said in an e-mail that the 7-foot-7 Bol died Saturday morning at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.

The 47-year-old Bol played 10 seasons in the NBA and later worked closely with Sudan Sunrise, a humanitarian group based in Lenexa, Kan., that promotes reconciliation in Sudan. Bol played professionally with Washington, Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami.

Selected in the second round of the 1985 draft by the Washington Bullets, Bol was a shot-blocking force in the NBA despite his slight build. In his rookie season in Washington, he averaged a league-leading five blocks per game and ranks 14th in NBA history with 2,086 blocks.

For his career, Bol averaged 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.

Bol was hospitalized in mid-May during a stopover in Washington after returning to the United States from Sudan. At the time of Bol's hospitalization, Pritchard said it was believed the medication he took in Africa for his kidney problems resulted in the disease.

Prichard said Saturday that Sudan "and the world have lost a hero."