Isaac
Years ago
South Sudanese seek to stand out in Australian basketball
NY Times story about the rise in South Sudanese basketball players in Australia.
Great article. Really important issues raised re: basketball, culture, acceptance, support and opportunity: https://t.co/TY1X167QoB
— Jacob Holmes (@jacobholmes12) May 3, 2017
Henry and Gum, who arrived here as toddlers with thousands of other refugees relocated to Australia during Sudan's civil war, are now being recruited to play for elite high schools in the United States. Those who followed a similar path before them include Deng Gak, a 6-foot-11 forward at the University of Miami; his older brother Gorjok Gak, who plays for the University of Florida; and Kouat Noi, who plays for Texas Christian.South Sudanese, Seeking to Fit In, Stand Out in Australian Basketball
South Sudanese players from other Australian cities, like Thon Maker of the Milwaukee Bucks, also have been recruited, along with dozens of others who have made their way to the United States for high school and college on basketball scholarships.
None of this was what Mr. Chagai expected or aimed for. He and a few other South Sudanese refugees started playing for fun after landing here a decade ago, and they started coaching only because it’s what their community needed. Many of the South Sudanese children arrived without fathers. Their new country — generous, rich and often quite racist — needed navigating.