A young man in formal attire holding a basketball, symbolizing unity and progress in Africa’s eco-friendly border projects.
Khaman Maluach, an 18-year-old South Sudanese basketball prodigy, captured hearts when he was drafted 10th overall by the Houston Rockets (then traded to the Phoenix Suns) in the 2025 NBA Draft. Born in war-torn Rumbek and raised in a Ugandan refugee camp, Maluach began his journey from hardship to hardwood at age 13, when he was advised to pick up basketball by a passing motorcyclist. His talent then blossomed at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal and later at Duke University. Standing at 7’2″, he now carries the hopes of a continent, proudly donning a jacket stitched with flags of South Sudan and Uganda. His draft night tears symbolized not just personal triumph, but a dream realized for African youth everywhere.
Aljazeera