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Gorjok Gak

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Gorjok Gak
No. 12 – Tasmania JackJumpers
PositionCenter
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1996-11-09) 9 November 1996 (age 27)
Egypt
NationalityAustralian
Listed height211 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight102 kg (225 lb)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Basketball Nymburk
2022–2023Brisbane Bullets
2023Willetton Tigers
2023–2024South East Melbourne Phoenix
2024Rockingham Flames
2024–presentTasmania JackJumpers
Career highlights and awards

Gorjok Gak (born 9 November 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Florida Gators and California Baptist Lancers before starting his professional career in the Czech Republic, where he won a championship with Basketball Nymburk. He debuted in the NBL in 2022 and has played for the Brisbane Bullets and South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Early life

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Gak was born in Egypt to South Sudanese refugees, but his family soon decided to leave the country and move to Sydney, New South Wales.[1][2][3] He began playing basketball in Sydney and participated in the annual South Sudanese Australian National Classic.[1] He attended St Augustine's College before moving to the United States in 2014.[4] His friend, Deng Adel, convinced him to play high school basketball at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Florida.[1]

Gak graduated from Victory Rock Prep in 2016 and averaged 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in his final season.[5][6] He helped Victory Rock Prep to a championship in the team's season-ending Grind Session National Tournament.[7]

College career

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Gak committed to Oklahoma State to play for Travis Ford, but he was released from his letter-of-intent after Ford was fired at the end of the 2015–16 season.[1][8] Gak subsequently joined the Florida Gators in April 2016.[7][9]

Gak was initially ruled ineligible by the NCAA at the beginning of his rookie season, due to questions about the number of games he played at Victory Rock Prep.[10] His eligibility was restored in full following an appeal.[1] As a freshman for Florida in 2016–17, Gak saw limited minutes and totaled 23 points and 23 rebounds in 15 appearances.[5]

As a sophomore in 2017–18, Gak battled through knee soreness and swelling all season[5] and averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 29 games.[11]

Following off-season knee surgery, Gak redshirted the 2018–19 season.[5] He returned to the Gators for the 2019–20 season but suffered a dislocated shoulder in a practice in October.[12] He appeared in two games while battling various injuries before leaving the team at the end of December.[5]

In April 2020, Gak joined the California Baptist Lancers[12] as a graduate transfer.[6] In the 2020–21 season, Gak played and started in all 23 games and averaged 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 19 times and recorded 10 double-doubles. He scored a career-high 26 points against Long Beach State on 23 January 2021. He was subsequently named All-WAC Second Team, WAC All-Defensive Team and WAC All-Newcomer Team.[6]

Professional career

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In July 2021, Gak signed with Basketball Nymburk of the Czech NBL for the 2021–22 season.[13] He helped the team win the Czech League championship and averaged 13.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.[14]

On 6 July 2022, Gak signed with the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2022–23 season.[15] In round 13 against Melbourne United, he recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.[16] In 25 games, he averaged 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.[14]

Gak joined the Willetton Tigers of the NBL1 West for the 2023 season.[17] He earned All-NBL1 West First Team honours and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.[18] In 22 games, he averaged 20.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.[14]

On 10 April 2023, Gak signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the 2023–24 NBL season.[16] He endured an injury-hit season, playing just 17 games and averaging 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.[19]

Gak joined the Rockingham Flames for the 2024 NBL1 West season.[20] He was named to the All-NBL1 West First Team for the second straight season[21] and earned NBL1 West All-Defensive Team honours.[22] In 20 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 10.95 rebounds, 2.25 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.[23]

On 18 April 2024, Gak signed a two-year deal with the Tasmania JackJumpers, with the second year containing a club option.[19]

National team

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Gak played for the Australian University National Team in 2017 at the World University Games in Taipei. In eight games, he averaged 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.[14]

Personal life

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Gak is the son of Ajok Langar and Matur Gak and his siblings are Deng, Nyapath, Akoldah, Adeng and Ayen.[5][6] Two of his brothers, Deng and Akoldah, are also professional basketball players.[24] His uncle, Longar Longar, played basketball at Oklahoma and his aunt, Nytar Longar, played basketball at Buffalo.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Tyler, Chris (12 January 2018). "Gorjok Gak ready to make an impact for Florida Gators". ESPN.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ "One on One: Gorjok Gak & Jason Jitoboh". YouTube. Florida Gators. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  3. ^ "From war-torn South Sudan to raising three of Australia's brightest young basketballing prospects, the Gak family has quite the story..." facebook.com/10NewsQLD. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ Boyce, Dan (26 April 2016). "Florida Gators sign 6-foot-10 Sydney product Gorjok Gak". AussieHoopla.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Gorjok Gak". Florida Gators. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Gorjok Gak". California Baptist Lancers. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Aussie Gak signs with Florida Gators". SBS. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Victory Rock center Gorjok Gak gets release from Oklahoma State letter of intent". USA Today. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Gators Add Gak to 2016 Class". Florida Gators. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  10. ^ Brockway, Kevin (26 July 2016). "UF basketball freshman Gorjok Gak ineligible". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Gorjok Gak". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b Goodall, Zach (12 April 2020). "Gators Center Gorjok Gak Transfers to California Baptist". Sports Illustrated. FanNation. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  13. ^ Cross, Danny (23 July 2021). "Gak Signs Pro Contract With ERA Basketball Nymburk". California Baptist Lancers. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d "Gorjok Gak". Australiabasket.com. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Gorjok Gak Signs with Bullets". NBL.com.au. 6 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Phoenix sign 211cm centre Gorjok Gak for NBL24". South East Melbourne Phoenix. 10 April 2023. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Gorjok Gak Signed for the Zambrero Willetton Tigers in 2023". WillettonBasketball.com.au. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  18. ^ "2023 BWA AWARDS NIGHT, NBL1 WEST & HALL OF FAME – AWARD WINNERS". BasketballWA.asn.au. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Gak signing first move for champions". NBL.com.au. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Rockingham add Defensive superstar". NBL1.com.au. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024.
  21. ^ "NBL1 West Men | All-NBL1 1st Team". facebook.com/NBLOneWest. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  22. ^ "The 2024 NBL1 West Men's All-Defensive Team". facebook.com/NBLOneWest. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Gorjok Gak". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  24. ^ Garland, Jake and McInerney, Matthew (11 April 2023). "NBL: Cairns Taipans sign Akoldah Gak on a two-year deal". The Cairns Post. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
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