Basketball: 4 Simple Reasons The UK Should Care

4. Luol Deng

Luol Deng It all begins and ends with Deng. In the NBA Deng is a premier player. He does not talk trash, he does not play dirty, and he competes at the highest level every night. For lack of better word, Deng is a role model for troubled youth around the world. Born in Wau, Sudan he and his family fled to Egypt where he met NBA legend Manute Bol. Bol and Deng are both members of the Sudanese Dinka Tribe. Once granted political asylum and refugee status, Deng and his family moved to Brixton, South London. While in the UK Deng became a prolific young talent in both basketball and football. He was even asked to join Britain€™s 15-and-under team. He chose basketball and the rest is as they say, history. At 14, Deng had become such a talent he decided to make the move to the United States. There his game grew, garnering national attention. During his time at Blair Academy in New Jersey Deng was named a McDonald€™s All-American. He was ranked the number two high school prospect behind only the chosen one, Lebron James. He may not be a superstar but he is a elite-level defender as well as a well above average offensive player. Deng is committed to the Great Britain team, which can be tough to find from NBA players. Ben Gordon who is likely the team€™s second best player stated that he couldn€™t make a commitment to the team after he was traded in June, following the season. Deng is a player the entire country can get behind. He sees Britain as a country that saved him and gave him a new life. He wants to do the same for Britain. He refuses to let the program die after the years he has dedicated to it.
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Sukh Brar loves movies, television, comic books and sports. He is a student at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Working toward a undergraduate degree before hopefully moving into Law. Follow him on twitter @SukhBrar4