It’d be easy to assume that [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag], the five-star center from South Sudan, chose the Blue Devils in part because of his relationship with Luol Deng.
Deng, the president of the South Sudanese Basketball Federation, played his college ball with the Blue Devils in 2003-04. Maluach played for South Sudan, and by extension Deng, at the most recent Olympic Games in France this summer.
However, despite having a good relationship with Deng, Maluach said on a Tuesday episode of The Brotherhood Podcast that the former Duke star isn’t why he ended up in Durham.
“I wouldn’t say he played a big role,” Maluach said. “I really came to Duke because I love this place and I wanted to tell my story at Duke. That’s one of the main reasons I came here.”
Maluach said he did ask Deng some questions about his Duke experience during the recruiting process, mostly about the environment and his time with the team. Deng, of course, had nothing but rave reviews.
“He really told me, ‘It’s a real brotherhood,’ and then I came here and I saw it myself when I visited,” Malauch said. “I really loved Duke.”
Maluach, a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft, is expected to be one of the best defensive players in the country this season. He’ll make his Blue Devils debut on October 4 at the Countdown to Craziness.