Fresh off a Final Four run and in the midst of celebrating the surprise success of NBA rookies Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell, the Oregon Ducks men's basketball program has believed the 2018 recruiting class could be the best in school history for some time.

On Monday, that dream became a reality.

Already boasting commitments from five-star small forward Louis King, four-star power forward Miles Norris and four-star combo guard Will Richardson, Oregon added another major piece into the fold with the commitment of five-star center Bol Bol, rated as the nation's No. 2 prospect by Scout and No. 3 by 247Sports composite rankings.

Bol made the announcement in an article on The Players' Tribune:

I would like To thank everyone who recruited me. I had a tough decision to make. Today I would like to announce I have committed to Oregon https://t.co/kWOmpiKTt8 pic.twitter.com/cdyMrp5JQg — Bol (@bolmanutebol) November 20, 2017

"During my official visit -- it was on a recent weekend -- we got to go into a room someone said was known as the Phil Knight room. It was this special room where they showcase all the new Oregon gear Nike is working on," Bol wrote. "What I saw in there blew me away."

He also pointed out how significant Oregon assistant coach Tony Stubblefield's approach was to his interest in the program.

"I didn't know much about the school until I started getting recruited by Oregon's assistant coach, Tony Stubblefield," Bol wrote. "And then later by Coach Altman. Before that, I knew they had a lot of jerseys, a lot of different shoe combinations, but that was about it. But it was really those first few meetings with Coach Stubblefield that impressed me the most. He was accessible. He got to know me. He was really real with me."

"And he was honest about the fact that Oregon has never really gotten a top recruit when it was between the Kentuckys and Dukes. He didn't shy away from that. What he did was lay out the vision they had for me."

The 7-foot-1, 225-pound son of NBA legend Manute Bol chose the Ducks over Kentucky in his final decision, but also held offers from Arizona, Kansas, UCLA and many others.

Bol, who recently transferred from Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California) to Findlay Prep (Las Vegas, Nevada), eclipses Malik Hairston (No. 7 nationally in 2004) as the highest-rated pledge in program history.

And for good reason.

Last week, Scout handed out its superlatives for the 2018 recruiting class and named Bol the nation's No. 2 player with the most upside and the No. 1 shot blocker.

"At over 7-feet tall with long arms and tremendous timing, Bol has proven to be a game changer at the rim. Bol is aggressive going after shot blocks from the weak side, where he is at his best, but also will swat shots away when defending his man. Given that he has so many great physical tools, it is no surprise that Bol alters the game on the defensive end, and he should only continue to improve in this regard."

He is also projected by many as the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Oregon just missed with R.J. Barrett, the No. 1 prospect in the 2018 class, but Bol provides the Ducks with an almost equal headliner to its recruiting haul and gives the program the nation's No. 1 recruiting class.

With one scholarship remaining, Altman has secured commitments from Bol, King, Richardson and Norris, but regardless of what happens going forward expect Bol to be the headliner.

"Next year, I'll be an Oregon Duck," Bol said.

-- Andrew Nemec

anemec@oregonian.com

@AndrewNemec