He is 7ft plus, has two years of Basketball Africa League (BAL) experience and is headed to Duke University. 

Khaman Madit Maluach is being touted by NBA scouts as a potential lottery pick in the 2025 draft. 

And one more thing, he will be playing for the City Oilers in the upcoming BAL Nile Conference, due in Cairo, Egypt from April 19-27. 

“I first saw him in 2022 in the NBA Academy programme; he was amazing,” says City Oilers director Ahmed Hassan. “But when I saw him again in 2023, I saw a huge improvement. Of course, he is 7ft2, can run the floor, can shoot. He is a threat on the inside and the outside.” 

Maluach is “a five-star recruit”, says Oilers general manager Mohammed Santur. 

“All the top universities in America – UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, and the list goes on – all gave him a scholarship. And Duke (which he opted for) does not need any explanation. So based on that, I believe is good.”

Maluach ready to star for Oilers

For Santur, the South Sudanese centre is more than good enough to start for the Oilers in the upcoming BAL, a tournament is familiar with, having played for Cobra Sports Season 2 and As Duanes in Season three.

Khaman Madit Maluach in action

“Definitely, he will start for us,” Santur confirmed, “and he will play as many minutes as he can.”

The Oilers are part of the Nile Conference, which also includes defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt, Libya’s Al Ahly Bengazi, and the unknown quantity that is Central African Republic champions Bangui Sporting Club.

“It’s the group of death,” remarked Hassan.

Making it out alive will require a special performance from Maluach and the rest of the Oilers squad, which will feature six other foreign-based players, including the likes of Robinson Opong, Brandon Ssebirumbi and last year’s top scorer Folando Jones.

“Maluach will give us that length, that advantage,” says Hassan. “He did well for Duanes last year, but we will see how it goes. You never really know”. 

Duke profile

This much is known, Maluach is on the trail to the NBA. And storied NCAA giants Duke will facilitate the transition, as they have done for countless talents in history. The five-time champions have arguably the biggest brand in American Collegiate basketball, thanks to the 42-year reign of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski. The coach retired with the most wins in the NCAA Tournament history, and with the second most titles (five).

Khaman Madit Maluach (third left) with teammates during his school days in Uganda

It is a famed programme Maluach is joining, spicing up a remarkable life journey that started in Rumbek South Sudan and took the significant turn to basketball in Uganda. Maluach spent much of his childhood in Kawempe, and attended Bethel Covenant College in Bwebajja.

Ugandan roots

His love for basketball was ignited by a casual conversation with a boda boda (passenger service motorcycles) cyclist, who suggested Maluach consider putting his height to valuable use. The tête-à-tête happened by the roadside, along the busy Kansanga to Ggaba stretch. Maluach listened. Under the guidance of trainers Akech Wuoi and Wal Deng, Maluach was shaped into a versatile player with the tools to develop into a modern-day big man.

Maluach’s development path often crossed with the iHoops Academy Clinics, which were and are overseen by Oilers’ legends Jimmy Enabu and Ben Komakech. The former will be a team-mate and the latter a coach in the BAL.

No wonder Maluach chose the nine-time Ugandan champions when the opportunity to decide where he would play Season 4 arrived. 

“Last year he was the first player to be drafted,” says Hassan. “This year everybody wanted him, but this year the format changed. There was no lottery, and since he was here earlier in his life, he chose us. We are honoured and we hope we will do right by him.” 

Added Santur: “He is a kid from Kawempe. He wanted to play for Uganda. And the team representing Uganda is Oilers; that is why he is playing for the Oilers.” 

A fact that will be etched in history whatever comes of the great expectations inspired by Maluach’s basketball talent.

Basketball Africa League

Nile Conference

Host City: Cairo  (Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall)

Dates: April 19 – 27

City Oilers fixtures

April 19 v Al Ahly

April 20 v Bangui Sporting Club

April 22 Oilers v Al Ahly Bengazi

April 24 v Al Ahly

April 26 v Bangui Sporting Club

April 27 v Al Ahly Bengazi