Former Colonel smiling at team’s success, while he chases his own path

Drink the Kool-Aid: The Colonels are contenders
January 24, 2018
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January 24, 2018
Drink the Kool-Aid: The Colonels are contenders
January 24, 2018
For the Saints, the hard work has just begun
January 24, 2018

The Nicholls State University men’s basketball team is cruising – currently in first place in the Southland Conference at press-time on Monday afternoon.

One of the program’s best-ever players is watching all that success from afar with a smile, while also chasing his own dreams on the basketball hardwood.


Former Colonel great Anatoliy Kolesnikov (formerly Anatoly Bose) is still making magic happen on the hardwood – now in his seventh professional season playing overseas.

Kolesnikov is a forward for BC Astana in Kazakhstan, which plays in the Kazakhstan Championships and the VTB United League – some of the most competitive professional basketball in Asia.

In addition to that, Kolesnikov was also chosen to represent Team Kazakhstan in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and if successful, he will have a chance to compete against some of the best players in the world when the tournament begins in 2019.


Kolesnikov, now 29, said he follows the Colonels from afar and wishes the team nothing but success going forward.

He said what’s allowed him to be so successful in his professional endeavors are the values he learned as a collegiate player: hard work, discipline and a willingness to always outwork the opponent on the other side of the floor.

“I’m always, I’m still a workhorse and a student of the game,” Kolesnikov said. “Recently, I have noticed a greater appreciation for the game. I realize that playing basketball for a living doesn’t last forever. I am very grateful every time I’m able to step onto the court.”


Kolesnikov is an awfully good one.

At Nicholls, he was known as Anatoly Bose – a name he used as a child and for most of his life. In the past few years, he’s changed his name back to Kolesnikov, which was his name from birth.

He was born in the USSR, but spent time in both the United States and Australia as a kid. He landed Nicholls as an Australian import from New South Wales – one in a long line of Aussie recruits that former coach J.P. Piper brought to the team during his tenure.


Kolesnikov was arguably the best of the bunch – a four-year standout who enjoyed two seasons as one of the best scorers in the country.

He averaged double figures in all four of his collegiate seasons, starting at 10.8 points per game as a freshman and ascending to 15.1 points per game as a sophomore.

In his final two seasons at Nicholls, Kolesnikov soared, averaging 21.1 points per game as a junior, then 22.1 points per game as a senior, finishing his collegiate career with 2,050 points, 629 made field goals and 3,763 career logged minutes – all numbers near the top of the university record books.


Kolesnikov said he loves Nicholls and he’s so proud of the team’s turnaround this season. He said he watches games when he can, but always checks scores to see how the Colonels are doing throughout the course of a season.

“It’s no secret that Coach Riley has done a great job recruiting high character guys,” Kolesnikov said. “There seems to be a new culture in place and I wish the team the absolute best of luck. I’d tell them to stay the process and great things will happen.”

Kolesnikov was getting attention from NBA scouts during the back-end of his career, but he went undrafted, then signed overseas – where he’s been since his collegiate playing days ended.


Most of his career has been with BC Astana – a premier team which faces some of the Asian powerhouse clubs, including CSKA Moscow.

But right now, Kolesnikov’s biggest goal is trying to do his country proud.

With Team Kazakhstan, Kolesnikov is trying to help push his team to the World Cup, which would set up potential matchups with some of the best players in the world.


In Qualifying, Kazakhstan is 2-0, owning the inside track to making the field among Asian teams.

Kolesnikov said representing an entire nation is a feeling that’s tough to describe.

“It is a great honor and a lot of fun traveling and playing countries all over Asia,” he said. “Our goal is to make the World Cup and while there, who knows? We may even match up against Team USA.”


The USA is on Kolesnikov’s mind professionally, as well.

He said he’d love to try and play in the NBA or even the G-League someday – a chance to try and play at the highest level in the world.

Kolesnikov concedes that at 29, he’s started thinking about what’s next in his career, and he thinks the answer is simple: more basketball.


Kolesnikov said he loves the game and plans to work inside of it for as long as he can – working to share the knowledge he’s picked up while playing around the world.

“I want to play professionally for as long as I possibly can,” he said. “Then, I’d love to get into college coaching. Having experience in the NCAA, NBA from pre-draft workouts, Australia, Asia and Europe, I feel I have great knowledge of so many different angles of the game. I would love to share my experience and influence aspiring players.”

Anatoly Bose


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