Life as a Mountaineer - James "Beetle" Bolden
January 31, 2019 11:23 AM | Men's Basketball
Pound for pound, there might not be a tougher player in college basketball than West Virginia's James "Beetle" Bolden.
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The Beetle constantly puts his 175-pound body in harm's way to do whatever he can to help the Mountaineers win basketball games.
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Oftentimes it's worked, such as his 18-point, six-rebound performance in a home victory over Pitt, or his career-high 31 points against Oklahoma State, and other times his body has come out of it worse for the wear.
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Such was the case last Saturday when Beetle landed awkwardly on his ankle trying to grab an alley oop pass in West Virginia's loss at top-ranked Tennessee.
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That injury kept him from making the trip to Iowa State – the second game he's missed so far this year. His other injuries this season include stretched ligaments in his shooting hand, a full body cramp in the Buffalo game, an injured left elbow and a banged-up shoulder.
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He's also had to deal with a hip pointer.
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"The kid has got a lot of guts," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. "I feel bad for him. He hasn't had a chance. Every day it's something."
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Why? Why would Bolden subject himself to so much pain playing a game made for players twice his size?
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Love for the game, of course.
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"The game of basketball just brings so much out of people," he explained. "It gives me another place to express my feelings and be myself.
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"On the court, I'm in my own element. I'm in my own zone. I'm able to express myself, while off the court I'm not able to do that because I'm just so quiet and actually shy for the most part," he added. "When I'm on the court I don't feel any of that. I just feel a whole lot of energy running through my body."
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During Bolden's first two years at West Virginia he was known more as a jump shooter, so he set out to change that impression – at a cost to his body.Â
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"I saw JC (Jevon Carter) last year take it to the rack a few times, and I thought I'd pick up on that part of basketball at the college level as well because everybody has just labeled me as a shooter the last two years. This year I wanted to show them that I can attack the basket and finish around the big fellas as well," he explained.
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"I'm always accepting challenges. That's who I am," Bolden said.
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That means flying through the air and crashing to the ground, or standing his ground on defense before getting run over by a 240-pound forward.
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Beetle is courageous with a capital C.
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"Just the will to never give up – never give up on my teammates because they're out there fighting just like me," he said. "I've just always been that person growing up for whoever I'm playing with and whoever I'm playing for."
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Despite the injuries, the Covington, Kentucky, resident wouldn't change a thing. He loves being a Division I basketball player at a nationally recognized college basketball program.
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"To be able to make it this far in my life to be here on the college level – Power 5 school – basketball at the highest level for college players is actually a blessing for me because I came up with little to no recognition, and I just had to work for everything I got," he concluded.
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Life as a Mountaineer is presented by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
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Produced by Sean Merinar
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The Beetle constantly puts his 175-pound body in harm's way to do whatever he can to help the Mountaineers win basketball games.
Â
Oftentimes it's worked, such as his 18-point, six-rebound performance in a home victory over Pitt, or his career-high 31 points against Oklahoma State, and other times his body has come out of it worse for the wear.
Â
Such was the case last Saturday when Beetle landed awkwardly on his ankle trying to grab an alley oop pass in West Virginia's loss at top-ranked Tennessee.
Â
That injury kept him from making the trip to Iowa State – the second game he's missed so far this year. His other injuries this season include stretched ligaments in his shooting hand, a full body cramp in the Buffalo game, an injured left elbow and a banged-up shoulder.
Â
He's also had to deal with a hip pointer.Â
"The kid has got a lot of guts," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. "I feel bad for him. He hasn't had a chance. Every day it's something."
Â
Why? Why would Bolden subject himself to so much pain playing a game made for players twice his size?
Â
Love for the game, of course.
Â
"The game of basketball just brings so much out of people," he explained. "It gives me another place to express my feelings and be myself.
Â
"On the court, I'm in my own element. I'm in my own zone. I'm able to express myself, while off the court I'm not able to do that because I'm just so quiet and actually shy for the most part," he added. "When I'm on the court I don't feel any of that. I just feel a whole lot of energy running through my body."
Â
During Bolden's first two years at West Virginia he was known more as a jump shooter, so he set out to change that impression – at a cost to his body.Â
Â
"I saw JC (Jevon Carter) last year take it to the rack a few times, and I thought I'd pick up on that part of basketball at the college level as well because everybody has just labeled me as a shooter the last two years. This year I wanted to show them that I can attack the basket and finish around the big fellas as well," he explained.
Â
"I'm always accepting challenges. That's who I am," Bolden said.
Â
That means flying through the air and crashing to the ground, or standing his ground on defense before getting run over by a 240-pound forward.
Â
Beetle is courageous with a capital C.
Â
"Just the will to never give up – never give up on my teammates because they're out there fighting just like me," he said. "I've just always been that person growing up for whoever I'm playing with and whoever I'm playing for."
Â
Despite the injuries, the Covington, Kentucky, resident wouldn't change a thing. He loves being a Division I basketball player at a nationally recognized college basketball program.
Â
"To be able to make it this far in my life to be here on the college level – Power 5 school – basketball at the highest level for college players is actually a blessing for me because I came up with little to no recognition, and I just had to work for everything I got," he concluded.
Â
Life as a Mountaineer is presented by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
Â
Produced by Sean Merinar
Â
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