Report: Duke center Khaman Maluach at risk of deportation after new passport edict

Report: Duke center Khaman Maluach at risk of deportation after new passport edict

The Duke Blue Devils suffered a heartbreaking collapse to the Houston Cougars Saturday night in the second of two Final Four matchups in San Antonio, Texas. Duke surrendered a 15-3 run and converted just one field goal in the final 10-plus minutes of play, losing a 70-67 thriller.

The Blue Devils were littered with plenty of young talent. However, one of those players, center Khaman Maluach, could be at risk of deportation as a result of a new passport edict from the Trump administration.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the United States will be revoking all visas from South Sudan passport holders due to “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner,” he announced on Twitter.

Maluach was born in Lakes State, South Sudan, before his family fled to Uganda. He represented South Sudan in the Olympics last summer before playing his freshman season at Duke. The 7-foot-2 big was widely expected to enter his name in the 2025 NBA Draft.

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According to Duke spokesman Frank Tramble, the school is “looking into the situation and working expeditiously to understand the implications for Duke students.” Maluach, who won’t turn 19-years-old until Sept. 14, did not speak to the media after Saturday’s loss.

In 39 games this season, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 71.2 percent shooting and 73.6 percent true shooting in 21.2 minutes per game. Should he declare, I have him as a top-3 big in this class with Thomas Sorber and Asa Newell.

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