Maluach earned a coveted spot at the NBA Academy Africa
Khaman Maluach’s meteoric rise in the world of basketball may feel sudden to some, but behind his ascent lies years of perseverance, hard work, and the unwavering belief in a dream.
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Born in Rumbek, South Sudan – a town marred by political unrest and civil war – Maluach’s early life was steeped in uncertainty.
His family, seeking safety and a better life, relocated to Uganda while he was still a young child. Though he has no clear memory of the move, Maluach grew up in Kawempe, a district in Uganda’s capital Kampala, where he was first drawn to football and supported Manchester United.
His path shifted in 2019, when at the age of 13, Maluach attended a basketball camp hosted by the Luol Deng Foundation. That single experience marked a turning point.
“I actually don’t know the year I left South Sudan… I don’t remember anything, moving to Uganda. All I know is that I grew up in Uganda,” Maluach told ESPN.
What began as a casual introduction to basketball soon blossomed into a life-altering pursuit. Deng, a former NBA star of South Sudanese heritage, has long championed the development of African talent through his foundation, and Maluach quickly stood out.
By 2021, Maluach had earned a coveted spot at the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal – a major milestone for any aspiring player on the continent. The elite training center is designed to prepare young athletes for careers in basketball, providing not only advanced coaching but also educational support.
Through the NBA’s BAL Elevate Program, which places academy players with professional teams in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Maluach got to test his skills against grown men on a big stage.
He played with South Sudan’s Cobra Sport in 2022, then took on a more significant role with AS Douanes of Senegal the following year. By 2024, at just 17 years old, he was the leading man for Uganda’s City Oilers – a team he helped guide deep into the BAL tournament. These experiences helped mold him into one of the most talked-about prospects not just in Africa, but globally.
His next leap came when he committed to Duke University, a powerhouse in NCAA basketball. There, Maluach made an immediate impact as a freshman. His towering 7-foot-2 frame and impressive versatility allowed him to become a game-changer for the Blue Devils. During the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, he was pivotal in their championship run, ultimately earning a spot on the All-Tournament First Team.
That tournament performance didn’t just make headlines – it solidified his status as a likely top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as NBA scouts are enamored by his rare blend of size, agility, and skill.
