A year ago at this time, Aksel Bolin found himself in Norway trying to make a decision between basketball and school.

All college-aged members of the Norway national basketball team are expected to choose between studying at a university in-country or signing with a professional team. Both of Bolin’s parents played professional basketball, but the freshman knew his country’s priorities were with soccer, not basketball.

“Norway is really small in basketball, and it’s just terrible,” Bolin said. “Something started to happen in 2000 when we started our highest league and when basketball came on TV, but it has just gone downhill from there.”

Unable to choose between the game he loved and his education, Bolin went to a friend for guidance. The friend just happened to be a member of NIU’s athletic hall of fame. Former NIU soccer player and avid basketball fan, Johan Bergseth turned to current NIU assistant men’s basketball coach, Sundance Wicks.

Wicks met Bergseth during his travels to Norway and Sweden while playing professional basketball. The two became fast friends and have kept in touch over the phone. Bergseth often jokes with Wicks about the great Norwegian basketball players he has for the Huskies. The joking nature turned serious, however, when Bergseth talked to Wicks about Bolin last year.

“He never came after me with specific players before,” Wicks said. “He always told me he had players, but he never came at me with anyone in particular.”

Using his connections made in Norway, Wicks contacted Baard Stoller, the head coach of Bolin’s club team the Asker Aliens. Stoller felt comfortable enough with Wicks to bring Bolin from Norway to DeKalb for a meeting with the NIU coaching staff.

Without even stepping on the court, Wicks’s opinion of Bolin improved.

“Just walking next to Aksel, I noticed that they calculate height differently in Norway,” Wicks said. “They told me he was 6’5″ but he comes over and he’s pretty much 6’7″ or 6’8″, which made him even more attractive to us.”

Bolin wanted to get an opportunity to play with the Huskies before committing one way or the other. The NIU coaching staff consented, but the group was unable to watch Bolin play.

“When the season is over and our kids are in the gym playing, it’s a major violation for us to be around,” said NIU head coach Ricardo Patton. “Certainly there was some feedback from our guys that played with him, but we basically took a chance without the full benefit of watching him play in a summer league.”

Lacking the proto-typical physicality of an American basketball player, Bolin has dedicated his freshman season to getting stronger.

“I’m working out everyday, and we’re really trying to get me better in that aspect of the game.” Bolin said. “It’s definitely a higher level here, and I’m just trying to get on that level.”

While Bolin may still be transitioning to American basketball, the former Asker Alien is certainly up on American fashion.

“The first time Aksel pulled up, he was in some Chuck Taylors,” said Wicks with a laugh. “Now, he has an old-school Chicago Bulls hat with his nickname ‘Euro’ stitched on the back. So, he’s looking good.”