Incoming Duke basketball freshman [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] already has experience against professional basketball players in Africa, but he’ll (presumably) get one more massive boost on his resume in Paris this summer.
Maluach already made South Sudan’s training camp roster for the 2024 Olympic Games, and after his time on the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup squad, he seems like a lock for the team. With the groups set for pool play, the United States stands in his way as well.
South Sudan and the U.S. both drew Group C for the international competition alongside Serbia (home of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic) and Puerto Rico.
Maluach, just 17 years old, stands more than 7 feet tall and he’s a presumed lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Another Blue Devil plays in Group C, too, with recent NBA champion Jayson Tatum on the United States squad. [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag], Maluach’s future teammate and the top-ranked 2024 prospect, made the country’s Select Team to help the Olympic squad prepare.
The #ParisOlympics groups are set 🥇
Who's the biggest threat to Team USA? pic.twitter.com/rO2Mk0FqQQ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 8, 2024
Eight of the 12 available teams will advance from group play to the quarterfinals before the tournament becomes a single-elimination tournament.