When I came to the United States from South Sudan at 16 years old, I was just a tall, skinny kid with a dream. I barely weighed 153 pounds my freshman year of high school, and even now, people still call me “skinny.” But I always knew I was more than what people saw on the outside.
What they didn’t know was the fire I had inside me. I had a goal—to play Division I basketball. And no matter how unrealistic that seemed to others, I knew I wasn’t going to let my story end before it even started.
Told I Wasn’t Good Enough
I’ll never forget the coach who looked me straight in the eye and said, “You’ll never play Division I. You’ll be lucky to play at a junior college.” That moment crushed me. I cried for a week. I couldn’t even eat. That’s when I learned what depression really feels like—alone in a new country, away from my family, hearing that my dream might not come true.
But I also realized something: crying wasn’t going to get me anywhere.
That pain turned into fuel. I started lifting twice a day, every day. I didn’t stop unless my body told me to. I became obsessed with getting stronger—not just physically, but mentally. I told myself: If I want to be great, I need to act like I’m already there.
Chasing My Dream with Relentless Focus
The summer before my junior year, I trained at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas—a place where NBA players and future draft picks trained. Just being in that environment changed everything. I saw how the best trained. I saw their mindset. And it sparked something even deeper in me: an obsession with growth.
I kept lifting twice a day. No excuses. No shortcuts. Just straight work.
Eventually, the results showed. My junior year, I received my first Division I offer from Old Dominion. Then came offers from Canisius, VCU, and Binghamton University. I had more offers than I ever imagined—but I turned some down because I didn’t want to play in cold places. (I’m African—I need the sun!)
In the end, I chose Binghamton. That’s where I graduated from.
College Ball: The Ups and Downs
College basketball taught me more than just plays or systems. It taught me patience. It taught me how to stay ready—even when I was benched. I played some games, but I spent a lot of time watching from the sideline.
Then came COVID.
My freshman year, I felt great physically. But after COVID hit, I had a foot injury that required surgery. The recovery process was tough—physically and mentally. I struggled to feel like myself again. And just when I thought I was coming back, everything changed again.
I transferred to Concordia University Irvine in California. New team. New coaches. New level. But things didn’t go how I hoped. I didn’t get to play the way I wanted during my last year. That was tough to accept. But I realized this wasn’t the end of my journey—it was the beginning of a new one.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Looking back now, I understand what it was all for. Everything I went through—the doubt, the tears, the injuries, the long nights in the weight room—it shaped me. It made me who I am.
Now, I’ve made it my mission to help people like me. Young athletes who feel overlooked. High school kids who want to play at the next level. People chasing goals others said were impossible.
I know now that success is all about mindset. Everything you do is connected. That’s why this past summer, when I read The Compound Effect, it hit me hard. I realized I’d already been living it—day by day, set by set, decision by decision.
Let’s Build Your Story Together
If you’ve ever been told you’re not good enough…
If you’ve ever felt alone in your grind…
If you’ve got a dream and don’t know where to start…
I’ve been there.
And now, I’m here to help you get through it. Whether it’s playing in college, training for your season, or just getting in shape—I want to help you build the mindset, habits, and confidence to succeed.
This is just the beginning.
Let’s Connect
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