Jumping Through Hoops: The Bol Kong Story

This article was in the New York Times yesterday about Bol Kong, a Sudanese national living in the Canadian province British Columbia who led Douglas College to the Canadian college basketball championship. His team also played exhibition games against Boise State and Marquette, two NCAA tournament teams, and apparently he was scoring at will against them. So much so that schools in the northwest like Washington State, Boise State, Idaho, and Gonzaga became interested in him. The Zags even offered him a scholarship.

Now the problem that arises here is that Kong, a 6'7" shooting guard, is from Sudan, which is listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. Kong, now 20, has lived in Canada since he was 7, but never established citizenship there. As a result, he has been denied a visa to study in the US three times, and may never qualify for entry.

Now, I don't want to get into a political argument here, but I believe that our government limiting the number of immigrants from certain countries that sponsor terrorism is probably a pretty good law to have. But to a certain point. I also believe that people should not be allowed to skirt the rules just because they are exceptional athletes, but, again, only to a certain point. This kid has been living with his family in Canada for the last 13 years, and just because his parents did not foresee immigration problems and kept their Sudanese citizenship, our country is going to keep him from getting an education and pursuing a career in basketball? Is that really the spirit of the law?

Regardless, Kong seems like he has a pretty good head on his shoulders.

If this effort fails, Kong said, he will give up. “Then I’m just going to say, You know what, forget it. I’ve tried enough,” he said. “I’m just going to finish my career here in Canada.”

This youtube documentary tells you more about this kid.