Khaman Maluach has emerged as one of the most captivating stories in college basketball this season. The 7-foot-2 freshman center at Duke, originally from South Sudan and raised as a refugee in Uganda, only started playing basketball a few years ago after a serendipitous meeting with a local coach. Despite his late start, Maluach has quickly gained national attention, helping lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four and drawing the interest of NBA scouts.
However, as Duke’s season ended with a loss to Houston on Saturday, an unexpected announcement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast a shadow over Maluach’s future. Rubio revealed on social media that the U.S. government was revoking visas for all South Sudanese passport holders and halting the issuance of new ones, citing the South Sudanese government’s failure to accept repatriated nationals in a timely manner. This policy shift directly impacts South Sudanese nationals in the U.S. on non-immigrant visas, including student-athletes like Maluach.
Duke has not given a clear response regarding Maluach’s status. When asked, the university had no comment, but later Duke spokesperson Frank Tramble indicated that the school is “looking into the situation and working quickly to understand the implications for Duke students.”
Maluach’s journey is extraordinary. Raised in a Ugandan refugee camp, he only discovered basketball as a teenager. With his remarkable physical attributes—7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-8 standing reach—he quickly stood out. After training at the NBA Academy Africa, he earned a scholarship to Duke, where he made an immediate impact. In his freshman season, Maluach averaged 8.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting a remarkable 71.4% from the field. His postseason performance was even stronger, with averages of 11.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game over Duke’s final seven games.
NBA mock drafts project Maluach as a lottery pick, with rankings ranging from No. 5 to No. 13, with several outlets forecasting a spot with the Toronto Raptors.
Now, however, Maluach’s NBA prospects may be jeopardized by international politics. If his visa is revoked, he could be forced to leave the U.S. before the NBA Draft or miss crucial pre-draft workouts and training. While the situation could evolve with possible exceptions or clarifications, Maluach is currently caught in a precarious position, facing an uncertain future both in his career and with his legal status.