Q&A: Strong relationships land Bolton with Nittany Lions

Penn State added a second member to its Class of 2018 Sunday evening when Rivals150 point guard Rasir Bolton made his announcement via Twitter.

We caught up with him to learn more about why he chose the Nittany Lions, what he'll bring to the program, and what's next until he arrives in Happy Valley next summer.

BWI: How does it feel to have your decision made?

RB: It feels good just to have my decision made and not really have to play with that burden on my back in July, trying to get the right school, because I found the right school for me. So it just feels good and now it's back to work.

BWI: How stressful had it been playing through the evaluation period without having made a decision?

RB: It's always tough going through the evaluation period. There's always coaches there, coaches looking at you and you're always thinking how you played, whether you played good or bad. But Penn State was always there, really, no matter what. Through the ups and downs, Coach Chambers, Coach Urgo were always talking to me, telling me to keep going and keep pushing and everything is going to be all right.

BWI: What attracted you to Penn State and how did that relationship start?

RB: Me and Coach Chambers just had a really great connection. We talked on the phone a lot and had a lot of conversations. Me and Coach Urgo as well. The coaching staff, we just connected and I just really wanted them to be my coaches. They trusted me and I really trusted them. And the school is just a great school academically.

BWI: What's it been like getting to know Coach Urgo?

RB: It's great. He's a great guy. I love him. He's always energetic, always enthusiastic and me and him really bonded.

BWI: What did you think when you first saw the school?

RB: I came up for a football game when they played Maryland. I loved it. It's a great place. The campus was beautiful. It seemed like a little small town/city area where there's a lot of great people. It just looks like a lot of fun.

BWI: How important was Penn State's prior relationships with Team Loaded to you?

RB: It's great because they helped me connect with Penn State and helped Penn State connect with me. So Team Loaded definitely helped out a lot. Knowing my Team Loaded family trusts them too, it really made it easy for me to trust in everybody. We trust each other.

BWI: Can you describe your game?

RB: I’m an up-tempo kind of guard. I like to play in transition, use ball screens. I can score it, I can pass, I just really can get my teammates to play with me and believe no matter what situation we're in that we're always winning the game. I'm a point guard. I can play the two but my primary position is point guard.

BWI: So you're the next in line after Tony Carr.

RB: They are big shoes to fill but I'm ready to step in and fight with those guys that he's there with now. Just come in, take his role and just conitnue to lead them as he does.

BWI: You're the second to join the Class of 2018. What's your relationship with Myles Dread?

RB: I’ve known Myles since we were nine. We played on the same AAU team and we were brothers ever since, really. His influence through the process was big, really. He was just telling me to come with him and we can make history and we can do it together. We can be a family again, me and him.

BWI: Did Penn State being up-and-coming attract you to the program?

RB: They are. They're coming up. Of course. They're on the edge, and if they're on the edge, then Coach Chambers is bringing me in to really take them over the edge and take them off. If they're up-and-coming, that means everybody is working hard, trying to earn something and nothing is given to them. So if you want it, you gotta go take it and that's the mindset we have, so I'm ready to be a part of that.

BWI: What's next for you? With your decision done, what stands between you and your enrollment at Penn State next summer?

RB: Just working, really. In the gym, in the weight room, doing everything I can to be ready to come in and play and lead the team.

BWI: What's your height and weight?

RB: 6-3, 170. I plan to bulk up a little bit, get to about 185, maybe a little bit more than that so I can stay strong and maintain.

BWI: What role do you think you'll play in Penn State rounding out its Class of 2018?

RB: I’ll definitely take a big role in that because I'll be the point guard, so I'll need that guy to play with me and be able to fight with me. So I'll have to go out there and find a guy who is willing to do that who I think will help me.

BWI: If you had one thing to tell Penn State fans today, what would it be?

RB: I would tell them I'm coming in, and I'm planning for them to love me and I plan to love them back. So I'm just excited to get up there and to meet all of them personally and get to know them.

Rivals.com Analysis:

"When I've seen Bolton play in the past, he's struck me as a scoring point guard who is very clever. He's not an overwhelming athlete, but he changes directions, he mixes up speeds and he uses a very good mid range game to keep defenders off balance. Like most high school guys, Bolton needs to add some weight but he's got a solid frame to build on.

"Ultimately, I think he can play both the one and the two at Penn State so he should provide Pat Chambers and his staff with some versatility in how they deploy him in their lineup."

- Eric Bossi, National Basketball Recruiting Analyst, Rivals.com