Ajou Deng

Ajou Deng

Ajou Deng (left) blocking a shot
Guildford Heat
Center
Personal information
Date of birth	March 22, 1978 (1978-03-22)
Place of birth	Wau, Sudan now (South Sudan)
Nationality	South Sudanese
High school	Milford Academy, Milford, Connecticut, USA
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
College	Fairfield, Connecticut
Pro career	2004–present
League	BBL

Ajou Ajou Deng (born March 22, 1978) is a British-South Sudanese professional basketball player. He is the son of Aldo Deng, a former Sudanese politician and is the brother of Luol Deng, an NBA player who is also his teammate on Great Britain's national team.

College Basketball

The 6’11” center played his university basketball in Connecticut with the Fairfield Stags from 2001 through 2003 after two years playing for the UConn Huskies from 1999 through 2001. His career was known for not measuring up to the tremendous amount of hype that preceded his arrival at UCONN. College Basketball analysts like Billy Packer and Dick Vitale once predicted that he could be the best player ever at UCONN. He never came close to reaching these lofty goals.

Professional Basketball

After graduating from Fairfield, Deng returned to Great Britain, where his family had been granted asylum, and joined pro outfit Brighton Bears for the 2004-05 season. In 37 games Deng scored 428 points, an average of 11.57 per game, and averaged nearly 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He started the following season with the Scottish Rocks before joining the Guildford Heat.

He played 37 games during the 2005-06 season, scored 398 points - an average of 10.76 per game - and had 6.43 rebounds and one block per game. Deng was named BBL player of the month in March 2006 and was a BBL All-Star that year as well. He won a BBL Cup winner’s medal with Brighton his first year as a professional.

Deng sat out the 2006-07 season with an ankle injury. He underwent treatment in Chicago, USA, where he stayed with his brother, Luol Deng, a forward for the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. Deng returned to the Heat on Dec. 7, 2007 to replace Carlton Aaron, who had recently been cut by the team.

Deng left the Guildford Heat in February 2008 before the BBL Trophy Final. to join Slavia Tu Kosice of Slovakia.

Career history

• 2008-date Slavia Tu Kosice
• 2007-2008 Guildford Heat
• 2006 Guildford Heat
• 2005 Scottish Rocks
• 2004-2005 Brighton Bears
• 2001-2003 Fairfield Stags
• 1999-2001 Connecticut Huskies

External links

• Guildford Heat Profile
• College stats for Huskies and Stags