South Sudan star set for international greatness

South Sudan is a new player on the world basketball scene, but Bright Stars and Adelaide 36ers wing Sunday Dech believes his nation possesses one of the most exciting talents in world basketball, in 16-year-old Khaman Maluach.

The seven-foot-tall centre made his senior international debut against Venezuela on Wednesday, and again on Thursday night against the Boomers. 

The NBA Global Academy member played just over six minutes against the Boomers, but scored seven points for his side – the same amount as current NBA G-League MVP Carlik Jones.

He also grabbed an offensive board and registered two steals.

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“Khaman’s a great kid,” Dech told SEN. “He’s phenomenal talent and we expect him in the NBA in a couple of years.

“He’s been at every camp and training with us and been around the environment, because he’ll be the flag-bearer for years to come.

“For him to get his first minutes was phenomenal and we expect nothing but greatness from him. It would be no surprise to hear his name in the top ten in the draft in two or three years.”

Dech’s journey through the NBL – first with Perth and now at Adelaide – has been well documented.

The 29-year-old was born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents, before moving to Perth at the age of six.

He’s one of a number of NBL players included in South Sudan’s extended squad ahead of the World Cup. Mangok Mathiang and Junior Madut both participated in the game against the Boomers, while it can be assumed Melbourne star Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Sydney development player Jackson Makoi and Cairns wing Bul Kuol would have been included, had they been fit to play.

Dech says the entire nation is looking forward to the challenge of its maiden World Cup appearance.

“It’s something you dream of as a kid, to play on the world stage for your country at the elite level,” he continued.

“We do have a tough pool … it’s one that’s going to be a challenge for us.

“We face Puerto Rico first, then China, then finish off with Serbia. All three teams play a different type of game and one where we have to have our best foot forward.

“We’re not overlooking Puerto Rico or China by any means, but Serbia being a powerhouse country on the world stage is one a lot of us are going to be gearing up for.

“It’s not every day you go up against a country like Serbia and the international players that have been there and been doing it for decades almost.

“If we’re able to lay a string a few wins together and go deep into the tournament it’s just going to lay foundations for the guys coming up for years to come and we can keep pushing. We’re hoping in five- or ten-years South Sudan is a powerhouse country.”