Deng Gai
Personal information
Born (1982-03-22) March 22, 1982
Wau, Sudan
(now South Sudan)
NationalitySouth Sudanese
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolMilford Academy
(Milford, Connecticut)
CollegeFairfield (2001–2005)
NBA draft2005: undrafted
Playing career2005–2011
PositionPower forward
Number35
Career history
2005Philadelphia 76ers
2006Dodge City Legend
2006–2007Wilmington Sea Dawgs
2007Albany Patroons
2007–2008Śląsk Wrocław
2011Palangos Naglis
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Deng Gai (born March 22, 1982) is a South Sudanese former professional basketball player. A power forward, he briefly played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in several other leagues. Gai was the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leader.

Early life

Gai fled from Sudan in 1999 as a refugee due to the civil war.[1] He travelled by train and a crude boat over a three-day trek to Egypt.[1] Gai arrived in the United States and settled in Fairfield, Connecticut.[1]

College basketball

After attending Milford Academy in Connecticut, Gai played college basketball at Fairfield University (also in the state), where he was a three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and took the Stags to the MAAC semifinals in 2005.[2] Gai graduated as number eight on the NCAA's all-time blocked shots list.

As a senior, Gai was named first team All-MAAC, leading the nation in blocks (5.5 bpg) while blocking 10 or more shots in three contests.[3]

Professional basketball

Gai declared for the NBA draft in 2004, but ultimately withdrew his name.[4] He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2005.[5]

After playing in only two regular-season games for the team, Gai was waived in December 2005. He then briefly played for the USBL's Dodge City Legend and the ABA's Wilmington Sea Dawgs. Subsequently, Gai, who had been drafted in 2005 by the CBA's Albany Patroons (2nd round, 10th overall), played for the team in the USBL, leading it in blocks. At the end of the season, he was named to the league's All-Defensive Team.[6]

In 2007-08, Gai represented Poland's Śląsk Wrocław, but the team folded after that season.

Personal life

Gai has nine siblings.[1] He is a cousin of fellow NBA player Luol Deng.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tommelleo, Donna. "From Sudan to Fairfield, Gai chasing NBA dream". Sudan Tribune. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ Andrea Woo, "Hard Road to Hardwood Glory," Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2005
  3. ↑ "CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports". Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  4. ↑ "Fifty-three early entry candidates withdraw". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  5. ↑ Sixers sign free agents Deng Gai and Shavlik Randolph
  6. ↑ USBL reveals 2007 “ALL-USBL” teams Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gaide01.html Deng Gai NBA Stats | Basketball-Reference.com
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