Six Kenyan Students Earn Full Scholarships to Study and Play College Basketball in the US

Six Kenyan students aged below 18 years have been awarded full scholarships to study and play basketball in the US.

The six were selected after impressing coach Robert Lihalakha during a one-day trial at Nairobi’s Umoja II Basketball Court on Monday.

More than 40 aspiring basketballers from across the country participated in the selection exercise dubbed “Life Above the Basketball 2021.”

Those picked include Mathoki Deng, a form two student at Dagoreti High School; William Joseph Ochieng, a former student at Upperhill High School; Pong Balle Herve; and Mariel Mayom Malek from Laiser Hill Academy.

Others are Olivier Karekezi, a class six student at Kifaru Primary School, and Mathis Codjia, a grade eight student at the International School of Kenya.
 
Ochieng, who hails from Mombasa said: “I have been involved in basketball from a very young age and I’m glad that my skills impressed the coaches.”

“This is a good chance for me to go and study as well as improve on my basketball career. My aim is to make it into professional ranks and eventually play for the Kenyan national team, Moran.” 

The 6-foot 11-inch tall Deng, a native of South Sudan, is seeking to emulate his idol South Sudanese-British Luol Deng, a former NBA star.

Coach Lihalakha, who was born to Kenyan parents is the director of Life Above the Basketball - an organization that scouts and mentors upcoming basketball players in the US and China. 

His organization offers full scholarships to the most talented youths in a bid to raise the standards of basketball in the country.

“I’m dazzled by the level talent displayed by these kids, unfortunately, we can only offer six slots, but I urge others to continue working and next year we will be back and give them another opportunity,” Lihalakha said.

“The six we picked are the immediately workable players, who have tangible skills. We not only look at the height but also academic performance... The selected players will be placed at different colleges and have opportunities to play college basketball,” he added.