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. He travelled by train and a crude boat over a three-day trek to Egypt. Gai arrived in the United States and settled in

Fairfield, Connecticut Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. Located within the New York metropolitan area ...

College basketball

After attending Milford Academy in Connecticut, Gai played college basketball at

Fairfield University Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1942. In 2017, the university had about 4,100 full-time undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students, including full-time ...

(also in the state), where he was a three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and took the

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to the MAAC semifinals in 2005. 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.

Professional basketball

Gai declared for the NBA Draft in 2004, but ultimately withdrew his name. He was signed as a free agent by the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...

in 2005. 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

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's Wilmington Sea Dawgs. Subsequently, Gai, who had been drafted in 2005 by the CBA's

Albany Patroons The Albany Patroons are a professional basketball team that plays in The Basketball League (TBL). Previously, the team competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and in the United States Basketball League (USBL). The Patroons won ...

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

Personal life

Gai has nine siblings. He is a cousin of fellow NBA player Luol Deng.https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gaide01.html Deng Gai NBA Stats , Basketball-Reference.com

References

External links