Ajou Ajou Deng (210-C-79, college: Fairfield) nailed 19 points for the Guildford Heat which downfall continued yesterday as they suffered the 8th straight defeat in the ULEB Cup season. This time Guildford were unable to cope with ALBA Berlin at the Guildford Spectrum. ALBA meanwhile posted an important victory as they improved to 4-4 record and climbed to the third spot in Group A ladder.
The Heat were impressive at the start as they scored 11 unanswered points to get the game going at 19:8.
Ajou Ajou Deng (210-C-79, college: Fairfield) nailed 19 points for the Guildford Heat which downfall continued yesterday as they suffered the 8th straight defeat in the ULEB Cup season. This time Guildford were unable to cope with ALBA Berlin at the Guildford Spectrum. ALBA meanwhile posted an important victory as they improved to 4-4 record and climbed to the third spot in Group A ladder. The Heat were impressive at the start as they scored 11 unanswered points to get the game going at 19:8. However ALBA responded pretty quickly organizing a 21:0 rally of their own to step in front. Guildford needed trebles from James Jones and Ajou Ajou Deng to get back on track. But Booby Brown replied with a three-pointer to put ALBA up by 4 points at the interval. The teams were tied for a couple of times in the third stanza before Julius Jenkins fueled a 7:0 run from ALBA to secure a 59:53 lead at final intermission. The hosts cut the gap to just a single point with under 5 minutes left in the game but it was never enough. Bobby Brown came up with 5 straight points for ALBA to put them away for good. Goran Nikolic nailed 15 points for ALBA. Patrick Femerling produced 14 points and 13 boards, while Julius Jenkins and Bobby Brown ended with 12 points apiece for the winners. Daniel Gilbert scored 18 points in defeat. Guildford will remain at home for the next game against Siauliai in ULEB Cup. ALBA travels back home to take on Turk Telekom on January 15. Sudanese Manock Lual (198-F-89) together with UPEI lost CIS game in Canada versus Cape Breton 80:52. Cape Breton stifled the Panthers defensively, holding the visitors to only 30% shooting. Veteran Jared Budd and freshman Manock Lual each had 11 points for the Panthers, who lost both games during their weekend trip to Sydney and Antigonish.
18 year-old John Riek (218-C) from the Sudan stands 7-2 and could be the next Sudanese to play in the NBA.
After a journey from Bitui,Kenya to the Emirates to New York, the star of last year's Nike Hoop Jamboree at Lebron James Skills Camp started to play in the States for Our Savior New American once he arrived there.
The rising star changed schools and is now playing for The Winchendon School after getting advice by Sudanese pro Mustafa Al-Sayyad who is tutoring John.
18 year-old John Riek (218-C) from the Sudan stands 7-2 and could be the next Sudanese to play in the NBA. After a journey from Bitui,Kenya to the Emirates to New York, the star of last year's Nike Hoop Jamboree at Lebron James Skills Camp started to play in the States for Our Savior New American once he arrived there. The rising star changed schools and is now playing for The Winchendon School after getting advice by Sudanese pro Mustafa Al-Sayyad who is tutoring John.His futuer could be decided by the next NBA Draft this year , so let's wait and see how this young man is deciding or whoever is going to decide his path to a pro basketball-career.
The controversy of his transfer is documented in this article here by the Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/basketball/articles/2007/12/18/a_basketball_odyssey/?page=1 and by the Daily News from New York: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hschool/2007/08/19/2007-08-19_the_tug_of_war_-2.html
Riek is not the only player from Sudan in high school sports right now as there are plenty of kids from the south of Sudan currently enrolled on schools around the country :
Marial Dhal, a 7-2 center and former Our Saviour-player now at Hillsborough Community College.
Thon Luony, a 6-6 forward transferred earlier to The Winchendon School from Our Savior.
Leek Leek, a 6-8 forward at Our Savior who is heavily recruited by Syracuse, Georgetown and St.John's.
Teeng Akol, a 6-11center at IMG Academy in Florida who has some interest in DePaul , St.John's , Kentucky and St.John's: http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1231022455&channel=1215674518
Ring Ayuel (225-C-88), a 7-5 center at Our Savior.
Steven Yien Gatkuoth, a 7-0 center formerly with Our Savior and now with Presbyterian College.
Ater Majok, a 6-10 center who made strides in Australia and should be enrolling in the U.S. on a college by the next year: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21855079-23769,00.html
Deng Leek, a 6-11 center at Laurel,Maryland.
Adhar Mayen (201-F), a 6-8 forward at the University of Hawaii: http://starbulletin.com/2007/10/12/sports/story04.html
Arol Longar (206-C) , a 6-9 forward at Panola JC in Florida.
Manock Lual , a 6-6 forward at UPEI in Canada.
Nyal Mac Koshwal (208-C) at DePaul where Thijin Moses (203-F) was recently dissmissed : http://www.hooplife.ca/viewArticle.php?id=144
With so much talent to choose from , even a junior-national team would have a good chance to compete against powerhouse Nigeria and Mali on a youth-level. Until there is no peace in Sudan, a national team consisting of players from the southern part won't happen.And with the crisis in Darfur, such a project is in a far distance...
I had recently the opportunity to meet Sudanese player Buai Tut (193-G) who is now enrolled at Grossmont CC near San Diego.
An athletic guard with all the tools to be a future pro player in Europe, the 6-4 sophmore is doing quite well after a shaky start into his college basketball career.
At New Mexico Military Institute, he wasn't getting any exposure on the court which led to his transfer to the Westcoast-school and to better days with the Griffins.
I had recently the opportunity to meet Sudanese player Buai Tut (193-G) who is now enrolled at Grossmont CC near San Diego. An athletic guard with all the tools to be a future pro player in Europe, the 6-4 sophmore is doing quite well after a shaky start into his college basketball career. At New Mexico Military Institute, he wasn't getting any exposure on the court which led to his transfer to the Westcoast-school and to better days with the Griffins. Now in his final junior-college season , he is doing his thing by showcasing his skills to four-year schools and is doing quite well so far. At the Grossmont Tourney, he averaged 10 ppg , 6.6 rpg and 2 spg for the Griffins , which is quite impressive for a player that is not the first scoring option of Coach Weber. Santa Barbara CC Invitational, he was a lock on defense with eight rebounds, two steals and three blocks against Santa Barbara CC (7 points); 10 rebounds, three steals and one block against Canada College (6 points and 5 assists) and nine rebounds, five steals and three blocks in the third game against Allan Hancock CC (6 points 3 assists). Two schools (one of the a NCAA D1-school) are currently recruiting him, and I think this kid is going to have a nice career with any team that is going to pursuit his services thanks to his willingness to give everything on the court for his team and being a role model for other Sudanese players in the U.S.
MidAmerica Nazarene's Akuien Wour (203-F) recorded a double-double with 11 points and gmae-high 15 rebounds to help his Pioneers winning the first time the national championship in the NAIA Division II. The senior also blocked five shots in the 78-60 win over Mayville State and was named to the All-Tournament Team.Wour averaged 9.1 ppg , 5.9 rpg and mervellous 3.
MidAmerica Nazarene's Akuien Wour (203-F) recorded a double-double with 11 points and gmae-high 15 rebounds to help his Pioneers winning the first time the national championship in the NAIA Division II. The senior also blocked five shots in the 78-60 win over Mayville State and was named to the All-Tournament Team.Wour averaged 9.1 ppg , 5.9 rpg and mervellous 3.3 blocks per game throughout the season while having a total of five double-doubles in his last season with the Pioneers. Hopefully, this emerging NAIA-talent can get some pro-basketball attention soon.
Acording to our colleagues from the Canada-section, Sudanese-Canadian Tut Ruach (188-G-85) was instrumental in the Lions 95-73 rout over Queen's in the OUA quarter finals. Ruach, who is one of the top players in Canada on the collegiate level , netted 20 points and pulled down six rebounds for York who are now facing Carleton over the weekend.
Acording to our colleagues from the Canada-section, Sudanese-Canadian Tut Ruach (188-G-85) was instrumental in the Lions 95-73 rout over Queen's in the OUA quarter finals. Ruach, who is one of the top players in Canada on the collegiate level , netted 20 points and pulled down six rebounds for York who are now facing Carleton over the weekend.
Here is a current check on most Sudanese players currently playing on a U.S. College:
Keak Biel (196-F) Kirkwood CC : 6,7 PPG (40 %FG); 3,8 RPG ; 0,4 BPG through 18 games
Dobong Puok (186-G) Ellsworth CC : 4,5 PPG (34 % FG) ; 2,7 RPG 1,4 APG ; 0,9 SPG through 18 games
Chany Chuol (201-F) Concordia Univ.
Here is a current check on most Sudanese players currently playing on a U.S. College:
Keak Biel (196-F) Kirkwood CC : 6,7 PPG (40 %FG); 3,8 RPG ; 0,4 BPG through 18 games Dobong Puok (186-G) Ellsworth CC : 4,5 PPG (34 % FG) ; 2,7 RPG 1,4 APG ; 0,9 SPG through 18 games Chany Chuol (201-F) Concordia Univ. : 4,9 PPG (53 % FG) ; 4,6 RPG through 14 games Ruot Chuol (198-F) Peru State : 7,9 PPG (48 % FG) , 2,9 RPG ; 1,7 APG ; 0,7 SPG through 15 games Dei Dei (198-F) Brown Mackie JC : 11,0 PPG (52 %FG) ; 5,9 RPG ; 2,2 SPG through 20 games James Deng (201-F) Avila : 1,4 PPG (39 % FG), 1,5 RPG through 18 games Isaac Kuon (193-G) Northeastern JC: 2,9 PPG (42% FG) 1,2 RPG through 19 games Silver Laku (188-G-84) Western Michigan: 1,8 PPG (40 % FG) through five games Longar Longar (211-C-83) Oklahoma : 11,3 PPG (58 % FG) ; 7,1 RPG through 16 games Arol Longar (206-C) Arkansas-Ft.Smith CC : 0,3 PPG (33 % FG) 0,7 RPG through 12 games Alex Makur (193-G) Central Florida CC : DNP Thijin Moses (203-F) DePaul : 1,4 PPG (44 % FG) ; 0,3 RPG through 16 games Arik Ring-Mawien Howard CC : 3,3 PPG (36 % FG); 0,4 spg through 23 games
Most intriguing player of the group is Longar Longar , while touted prep school-star Thijin Moses is not getting any playing time at DePaul.
There are several very tall Sudanes playing in the United States right now. One , Rinny Ngot, is at prep powerhouse Notre Dame Academyin Mass, where he is doing a pg year. The 7'1'' center is sadi to be a defensive force whose offensive game is getting better all the time. Ring Ayeul is the other skyscraper and he is attending Our Savior New American school in Long Island.
There are several very tall Sudanes playing in the United States right now. One , Rinny Ngot, is at prep powerhouse Notre Dame Academyin Mass, where he is doing a pg year. The 7'1'' center is sadi to be a defensive force whose offensive game is getting better all the time. Ring Ayeul is the other skyscraper and he is attending Our Savior New American school in Long Island. The 7'3'' center is set to graduate in 2009 so he has a 2 year window to improve his skills prior to College.
Another big time prep school player from the Sudan is going to play college ball this year.
Thijin Moses, a 6-8 forward out of Boys to Men Academy in Chicago committed to DePaul University
and should be eligible to play for the Blue Demons in the 2006-2007 season.
Moses' teammate at Boys to Men, Mac Nyal Koshwal , also originally from the Sudan, might be joining him next year.
Another big time prep school player from the Sudan is going to play college ball this year. Thijin Moses, a 6-8 forward out of Boys to Men Academy in Chicago committed to DePaul University and should be eligible to play for the Blue Demons in the 2006-2007 season. Moses' teammate at Boys to Men, Mac Nyal Koshwal , also originally from the Sudan, might be joining him next year.
Africabasket had the chance to talk to former Wisconsin Badger Duany Duany (196-F/G-76, college: Wisconsin) ,brother of Kueth Duany. He is still working on a national team for the Sudan.Here are his answers to our questions:
Africabasket: Doc, you had a great career with the Badgers in the NCAA , then you played pro ball in Sweden a couple of years ago.
Africabasket had the chance to talk to former Wisconsin Badger Duany Duany (196-F/G-76, college: Wisconsin) ,brother of Kueth Duany. He is still working on a national team for the Sudan.Here are his answers to our questions:
Africabasket: Doc, you had a great career with the Badgers in the NCAA , then you played pro ball in Sweden a couple of years ago.Do you still consider playing basketball professionally overseas ?
Duany Duany (196-F/G-76, college: Wisconsin): Thank you Kris for the compliments, yes I enjoyed my college days, about six year ago now. Then going over to Europe and playing was fun and a good experience for me, and to enjoy and extend my playing career a little longer after college. I enjoyed myself and met some good people and friends. I highly doubt it of playing pro basketball in Europe again as I am doing other things.
AB: What are you doing to make a living ? Is job related to basketball ?
DD: Well after finishing playing professionally I came back to school at Indiana University in 2004 and started my Masters Program in Athletic Administration/Sport Management, and teaching classes and also working with a former Indiana Assistant Coach, training and working out basketball athletes. I will have the Masters this May of 2006 and will finish teaching, and move into coaching or scouting in basketball as that is what I am moving to.
AB: You once contacted me regarding the national team of Sudan, what is the current status of sending a national team to the qualifiers of the african championships ?
DD: The National Team of Sudan is still in the works, as there is a lot involve with this. As you know Sudan has been in war, but recently has signed a peace agreement in January of last year, which is a great and exciting time. But having a team for the African Championships soon does not look possible. But it will happen sooner then later.
AB: How would you rate the chances of Sudan to make the last four teams at the african championships ?
DD: I cannot really rate a Sudanese National Team right now of how they would do in the African Championships, because there has not been a full roster of who would be on the team. Although there are very good Sudanse players out through the world right now playing every where, we would perform farely well I believe.
AB:Luol Deng (201-F-85, college: Duke) decided early to play for England instead of the Sudan, still he's one of the best players ever to come out of the Sudan.Do you know each other and can we expect him to support a possible national team ?
DD:Luol Deng (201-F-85, college: Duke) is a good Sudanese basketball player, and we are very happy and proud of him profiling this goal. Which will bring more opportunities for other Sudanese players to be in the NBA as there are one’s I believe will be there. Luol is a British citizen, and since there is no Sudanese team great for him to play for the UK. My family are U.S. citizens, but I believe when there is a National Sudanese Team, that will play at a high level, I believe it will be supported by all the Sudanese players.
AB: You may already know, but there are plenty of young and talented sudanese players currently playing in the US, new faces on prep schools like Mac Koshwal or Thijin Moses, who could emerge as the "next Luol Deng" out of this crop of players ?
DD: Yes there is a lot of players playing and learning how to play basketball early in the states. Many of them talented and have a bright future in the game of basketball in the states, and quite possibly will have a chance at the NBA.
AB: Your brother Kueth just completed the season in Finland, how does he get along with life in Europe and the people there ? Is he still trying to get in the NBA one day ?
DD: Yes Kris, my brother Kueth had a very strong finish in Finland at the end of this season, the life in Europe he really enjoys because of the great people and what it offers, so the adjustment has not been a problem for him.Yes Kueth is still pursuing his goal of playing in the NBA, which I believe he will get, but he is enjoying playing and seeing the world as he plays in Europe.
We want to thank Duany Duany taking time for answering all our questions and we wish him the best for his current and future projects !
