Duke 5-Star Khaman Maluach Makes South Sudan's Roster for 2024 Olympic Basketball

Duke freshman Khaman Maluach will represent South Sudan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The 7'1" center made the final cut as the country finalized its 12-player roster for the men's basketball tournament.

Maluach was the No. 1 center and sixth-best player nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2024 class.

"What immediately stands out about Maluach is his size. He's simply massive," 247Sports' Eric Bossi wrote in his scouting report from May. "At 7-foot-1 with a big and strong frame, he's almost impossible to move in the post and he has a pretty well developed low post game. He makes jump hooks, he finishes lobs, he has counter moves and he knows how to establish position, present a target for his guards and then finish once the ball is delivered.

"What makes him even more special is that he has legitimate faceup ability. He is comfortable taking and making threes and while he needs to get more consistent with his shooting, it is already a legitimate weapon that he'll only improve upon with time."

Maluach suited up for South Sudan in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaging 1.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 8.2 minutes per game across five contests, and he has remained in the national team fold leading up to the Summer Games.

In South Sudan's 101-100 exhibition loss to the United States, the 17-year-old finished with seven points, three boards and one block.

South Sudan placed 17th in the World Cup, an impressive outcome in its first-ever appearance in the event. The Bright Stars could be headed toward a quick exit in the Summer Games, though, considering they're drawn in the same group as the United States and Serbia.

Duke fans will nonetheless be following the squad's exploits with added interest thanks to Maluach's presence.