UCLA Basketball: Elite Big Man Recruit Attending Game Against USC
UCLA has a big basketball game Saturday night.
The crosstown rival USC Trojans will head up the 405 to square off with the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. For UCLA, a win here would give Mick Cronin's team a season sweep over USC.
It would also enable UCLA to remain a top-four seed in the Pac-12 as we inch closer to the conference tournament in Las Vegas next month.
While the game is significant, there's going to be (at least) one very special visitor taking in the action this evening. We're talking about 2024 five-star prospect Khaman Maluach.
The 7'2" big man is ranked as the No. nine overall prospect in his class by On3. A native of South Sudan, Maluach is a member of the NBA Academy Africa. He first started playing basketball in 2019. Considering his lack of experience, his quick rise to the top of the sport has been rather shocking.
Maluach was only 16 years of age when he debuted for the South Sudan National Team (which since has qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris).
There's a real sophistication to Maluach's game. While he has components of a bruiser in the paint, he can step out and shoot the ball from the perimeter with some real touch. His unusual wingspan enables Maluach to be an eraser at the rim. He has all of the components to be a dominant rebounder, both on the collegiate level and in the pros.
Thus far, Maluach has already officially visited Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas. The G-League is also said to be a potential option.
UCLA does benefit from the fact that it doesn't have a big man commitment for this current class. Former Bruin Alfred Aboya is also a coach at the NBA Academy Africa. You can be sure he's in the ear of the talented player, telling him about his wonderful experience in Westwood.
With Adem Bona potentially leaving for the NBA Draft after the season concludes -- along with the fact Aday Mara is still developing, Maluach could walk into a starting spot next year for what should be a very good UCLA team in 2025.
