A Profile in Determination

One of the many blessings which flowed from the past basketball season is having gotten to know senior student-athlete Bagot Anyang.

Bagot is unlike any player I’ve ever coached. He is living proof of the miracles which surround us every day. 

Bagot was born into the most poverty stricken, war torn nation on earth—South Sudan. He entered the world in the midst of a brutal civil war in a land where the people were desperately  fighting against a despotic regime to become an independent nation state.

South Sudan, home to twelve million people is tiny, land-locked,  and located in a bone dry desert. To even exist, South Sudan had to win independence from the much larger nation of Sudan. Then they had to take on the challenge of forging unity from various tribal/ethnic/linguistic groups as well as disparate religions. Scratching out a living is also hard. The average per capita income is $1,700 (compared to over $58,000 in the US).

Nation building did not come easy. 300,000 people were killed and an additional three million were uprooted from their homes and communities.

Within this tide of humanity made refugees by war and economic collapse was Bagot’s family. His journey to East High began in an Egyptian refugee camp. During this time as many as twenty people, most of whom were complete strangers, were packed into a shanty the size of an average American bedroom. Food, clean water, health care, education, and recreation were always scarce.

Luckily for Bagot, his family was eventually resettled to Kentucky where he began to learn English and become a part of American society. Another setback occurred during this time as Bagot’s parents split up and his dad moved to Australia, leaving the mother to care and provide for the children on her own. After an on-the-job injury resulted in being terminated by a heartless multi-national corporation, she moved her family to Des Moines for better work opportunities and living conditions.

It is safe to say no player in Iowa has faced the challenges and adverse circumstances that Bagot has endured. Through it all he has demonstrated courage, determination, and an unrelenting good humor.

Next week’s post will tell the rest of the story!