Khaman Maluach’s remarkable journey from South Sudanese refugee to projected top-five pick continues to capture attention across basketball circles. The 7-foot-2 Duke freshman has emerged as one of college basketball’s most dominant defensive forces this season.
While Maluach’s rise has been nothing short of electric, he credits much of his success to his family back home on the African continent. So, let’s get to know his parents in detail and how they raised him in volatile environments.
How Khaman Maluach’s Family Shaped His Journey From Refugee to Potential Top 5 Pick
Maluach was born on September 26, 2006, in Rumbek, South Sudan, a region long affected by civil conflict. His father is Madit Maluach, but his mother’s name isn’t available in the public domain.
At a young age, Maluach and his family moved to Kawempe, which is a suburb of Kampala, Uganda, in search of safety and opportunity.
“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.
Maluach’s father remained in South Sudan due to work obligations, which meant he spent much of his childhood without him and was raised alone by his mother in Uganda alongside his six other siblings.
In Uganda, Maluach grew up surrounded by a vibrant culture and a tight-knit community. Early on, he was drawn to soccer and rooted hard for Manchester United. It wasn’t until his teenage years that he found basketball, and it happened in a pretty unusual way.
“A guy was on a bike, and he suddenly stopped in front of me. He told me, ‘You should start playing basketball. I can get you shoes, I can get you the ball,’ if I started playing right away,” Maluach recalled to the BBC.
However, the road to success was not easy for him. The nearest basketball court to his house was nearly an hour away, and it was usually packed. Moreover, he played his first game in a pair of Crocs and not in basketball shoes. However, this dedication was enough to catch the eye of local coaches Wal Deng and Aketch Garang.
His talent carried him far beyond the crowded courts of Kawempe, earning him a spot at the NBA Academy Africa in Dakar, Senegal. In just a few short years, the boy who once played in worn-out Crocs has risen to become a projected top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
NOW BRING ME KHAMAN MALUACH AT PICK 10
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) June 22, 2025
He summed up his incredible journey in the BBC interview. “The orange ball has taken me so far.” Now, the 18-year-old hopes to change the lives of his family and the people around him through the orange ball.
“Basketball means a big thing to me,” Maluach added. “I believe it’s a gift God gave me to impact other people’s lives and to change my family’s life.”
Maluach’s family has been highly supportive of his journey, with his brother Majok saying he gets emotional watching the 7-foot-2 center live on television. “I like watching him on YouTube because if I watch him on TV, I get emotional,” he said.
Maluach’s journey is a story of grit and determination, and the South Sudan native hopes to finish his NBA career as a Hall of Famer.
