The New York Times featured an article on Sudanese basketball prospect Ater Majok, and his journey to the United States to play college basketball at the University of Connecticut.

Majok’s bare-knuckled journey from Khartoum, Sudan, to UConn’s lineup is nearly complete. A 6-foot-10, 233-pound freshman who was forced to sit out last season, Majok is expected to start for the No. 14 Huskies (6-2) on Sunday when they host Central Florida.

(Talk Ater Majok and African Basketball)

Nicknamed the Terror, Majok, the oldest of six children, was hardened by his roots. Refugees from the war in Sudan, Majok’s family moved to Egypt when he was a child. The scar on his left ear came from a Muslim gang member’s knife when he attacked Majok, a Catholic, after his family was moved to Egypt. The wound on his right thigh came similarly. To communicate, he had to learn four Arabic dialects. Majok never forgot his father’s command, “Don’t back down.”

Majok is ready for a new beginning. He survived eight years in a Cairo detention camp and relocated to Australia via a United Nations visa.

The forward spent 8 years in a detention camp to avoid genocide in his country and his time growing up with fear and overcrowding has made him a very aggressive player, which can be a positive or negative thing – depending on how he harnesses that energy.

Majok has a wingspan of 7-7, and was a top basketball recruit that had to sit out his freshman season. Even so, without playing one minute of college basketball, Majok received attention in last year’s NBA Draft before ultimately deciding to return to UCONN.  Read the full article on Ater Majok at the New York Times.