By ADAM ZAGORIA
Five-star big man Khaman Maluach has completed his visits and is closing in on a decision in March, a source told ZAGSBLOG.
The 7-foot-2 native of South Sudan most recently visited UCLA (Feb. 23-24) after previously visiting Duke (Jan. 20-21), Kansas (Feb. 9-10), Kentucky (Feb. 12-13) and G League Ignite (Feb. 21-22).
Maluach, who only began playing basketball in 2020 and now competes for NBA Academy Africa, is projected as the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, per ESPN.com. He recently reclassified to the Class of 2024.
“I think it’s the right decision because why not now?” Maluach told SLAM Magazine. “That’s what I was asking myself. Why not now? I feel like it’s the right decision and I feel like it’s God’s plan.”
This guy kind of stood out around the Luskin Center at #UCLA today. It’s Khaman Maluach, an elite 7-2 prospect on his official visit. pic.twitter.com/H5U0tgnEvA
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) February 25, 2024
Blair Academy (N.J.) coach Joe Mantegna has coached Maluach with the South Sudan national team and will serve as an assistant coach with South Sudan in next summer’s Paris Olympics.
“He has a chance to be the next Joel Embiid,” Mantegna said.
“He’s 7-foot-2, he’s a fluid athlete, he plays with an unbelievable edge and he has a really high skill level and IQ,. “I mean, he’s been playing at the highest level for a long time, he understands the game deeply and he has a remarkable competitive edge. “If he goes to college, he’s going to be a game-changer day one upon arrival.”
Maluach recently got a chance to meet his hero Giannis Antetokounmpo at NBA All-Star weekend, where Maluach competed in the eighth annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global camp.
Always hits different when you meet your idol 🌟
— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) February 28, 2024
2025 draft prospect Khaman Maluach meets his inspiration Giannis Antetokounmpo during #NBAAllStar
📸: @nbaacademy pic.twitter.com/yoBqN3hzLK
Photo: ESPN
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
