From a refugee, Chuol is Kenya's top basketball player

John Chuol arrived at the Kakuma refugee camp, aged 10, in 2003 from South Sudan after fleeing the war in his country following the death of his father.

Born in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, Chuol left his mother and 11 siblings back home to begin a life of uncertainty at the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)-run facility in northern Kenya that hosts over 180,000 immigrants.

"Life at the camp was difficult, with basic needs like water, food and sanitation existing only in one's imagination," Chuol told Xinhua on Sunday.

"However, that is not to castigate the UNHCR who are making the best out of a bad situation under the prevailing circumstances," Chuol said.

He was registered at Ngundeng's primary school at the refugee camp where he studied up to standard six after which he relocated to Kileleshwa Primary School in Nairobi with the help of well-wishers where he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) certificate in 2006.

"Some South Sudanese friends introduced me to Malezi School, which was offering scholarships to talented sports people," Chuol told Xinhua.

"I owe it all to Dr. Elizabeth Odera, the Director of Malezi School who believed in me and gave me an opportunity to study under a scholarship and play basketball. She gave me free education, free food, free shoes, free uniform, free everything and told me 'anything you need I shall provide'. I am delighted I did not let her down," he said.

Chuol, who stands at six feet and nine inches (6' 9"), and weighs 102 kgs played at center and power forward positions for Malezi School which during his time at the institution was one of the best basketball sides in the country.

After high school, Chuol joined the University of Nairobi (UoN) where he is undertaking a degree course in Medicine and Neurosurgery, and also turns out for the campus' basketball team the "UoN Terror".

Joseph Amoko, the Kenya Basketball Federation Secretary affirms that Chuol is one of the best basketball players in Kenya.

"He has the requisite high and power; two ingredients that are necessary for a successful career in the game. He has what it takes to play professional basketball in the U.S.," Amoko, who is also a certified coach, said.

Chuol describes his meeting with the United States National Basketball Association (NBA) star player, Luol Deng, who is also the captain of the Miami Heats, as his turning point in basketball.

"I met Deng in 2009 and we played together at the World Hope Center in Nairobi. He is a very humble man who imparts encouragement to young people. He is my role model," Chuol said.

He mentioned former NBA player the late Manute Bol, Ater Majok who plays in Russia, Deng Mayot (Spain) and James Mathiang (Japan) as some of those who have inspired South Sudanese youth to take up basketball.

Chuol goes back to South Sudan every school holiday, especially in April and December.

"The situation in South Sudan has deteriorated so much. I appeal to the warring factions to put the country before their individual egos so that normalcy can return to the country," Chuol pleaded.

He has resisted signing up to play for teams that participate in the Kenya Basketball League in order not to jeopardize his studies.

"I want to complete my studies and go back to South Sudan so that I can help others the way I was helped. The country really needs us," Chuol said.

He advised those who find themselves in dire situations not to give up adding that a drowning man clutches at a straw.

"Use whatever is legally available to propel you to success. I did not know I would reach where I have, and if I had lost hope the story would be different," Chuol said. Endi