BASKETBALL royalty visited Frankston last week when NBA two-time all-star Luol Deng gave a training masterclass to South Sudan born youngsters at the Frankston Basketball Stadium.
The 30-year-old Miami Heat player, a six feet eight inches “small forward”, was at the Seaford stadium on Friday before the weekend’s South Sudanese Australian National Classic featuring 35 teams from across the country.
Deng also formally announced the signing of NBL club Melbourne United’s first ever South Sudanese Australian player, Majok Majok.
Majok was born in South Sudan, and moved to Perth with his family as a boy. After playing high school and college basketball in the US and a pro season in Europe, Melbourne United has added the 22-year-old to their roster.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott said Majok can be “a great role model and inspiration” for Victorian youth with South Sudanese and wider Horn of African origin.
“The South Sudanese community in Victoria is a very proud one. They love their sports, particularly basketball, and I’m told that our young South Sudanese players are some of the most athletic in the state.”