Tag Archives: Peter Jok

BDN Premium checks in with prospect Peter Jok

Childhood years can be a tumultuous time for a lot of kids. At 3, Peter Jok lost his father to violence in war-ravaged Sudan. At nine, his mother ultimately moved the family to Des Moines, Iowa to begin a new life. Two years later, the young man put away his soccer ball and began playing basketball. At a reported 6'6," he's now successfully playing the sport that has helped several of his relatives achieve a college education and, in two instances (Manute Bol and Luol Deng), an NBA career.

After a season in which he didn't enjoy his prior explosiveness, Jok underwent an MRI, which revealed a torn patellar tendon. In June, he's expecting to undergo surgery to repair it and the rehab will take several months. Recently, Jok and his guardian Mike Dixon's son, Pete, transferred high schools from Roosevelt HS in Des Moines to Valley HS in West Des Moines, where he will be coached by former Iowa guard, Jeff Horner. On the AAU circuit, the sophomore Jok is averaging 8 points and 4 rebounds per game in limited action for the All-Iowa Attack, who are 7-3 in Nike's EYBL.

His older brother, Dau, was a freshman guard at the University of Pennsylvania this past season and is currently on a trip that will take him through Rwanda and Southern Sudan, distributing soccer and basketballs to young girls and boys. Dau Jok, who set up a foundation in their slain father's name, Dut Jok, is looking to ultimately empower the Southern Sudanese youth through athletics and education.

Recently, the more laconic Peter Jok spoke with Blue Devil Nation.

How do you feel you've played so far over this AAU season? [private]

Well, I tore my patellar tendon. So, I'm really not supposed to be playing. I'm just waiting to have surgery.

And when are you scheduled to have surgery?

June. Well, the middle of June.

How long will it take you to recover from that?

Several months.

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that, but, hopefully, you'll feel a lot better afterwards.

Yeah, I hope so.

In terms of a position, what do you view yourself as, long-term?

Probably, realistically, as a small forward.

For those that haven't had an opportunity to see you yet, can you describe your game for the audience?

Well, I just like to play inside-out and my weakness, right now, is attacking the basket.  I feel like I have weak knees. Until I get my strength back, I don't see any chance of it improving.

When did the injury occur or was it a gradual issue?

It happened last year in a Nike camp. I played through the season, but, when I finally got an MRI, they said I must've torn my patellar tendon.

I can't believe you could play at this level with that issue.

Yeah, I know. (laughs)

In terms of your strengths, what do you feel are some of them?

On the court?

Yes, I'm sorry. On the court..

Probably my shot. My mid-range has gotten a lot better. I feel a lot more comfortable shooting  and hitting it.

Which teams are after you right now?

Yeah, but  I have a guardian take care of that. He handles all of that and so I don't have to think about that.

Sure. Did you have a favorite team growing up?

No, not really. I watched a lot of Oklahoma growing up because my cousin was on the team.

Which cousin was that?

Oh, Longar Longar.

Sure.

Yeah, I used to watch him play.

 

Now, is it true that you're related to both Manute Bol and Luol Deng as well?

Yeah, it's true. When we first came here, I remember I spoke to Manute Bol at a family reunion.

 

In Iowa or elsewhere?

No, in Kansas actually. We have a lot of family there. So, yeah, he was very encouraging.

I know your older brother was a freshman this year at Penn.

Yeah, he is.
 

Have you ever spoken with Luol Deng?

No, but my older brother has. I don't really, like, know him that well.

Is there a player that you try to model your game after?

Kevin Durant.

A very skilled forward. Maybe we can touch on your journey from Sudan to ultimately Iowa. It's a unique story… coming out of a war ravaged area to Des Moines.

Oh, well, I came here when I was nine so I don't really remember much.

Perhaps, that's for the best.

Yeah, I guess and my mom doesn't really like to talk about it that much.

Sure, nevertheless, you arrived in 2003.

Yeah, exactly, I arrived in '03 and I started playing in '05. I actually used to play a lot of soccer.

 

Now, do you still play that in the fall?

No, not anymore.

 

Concentrating on basketball?

Yeah, exactly, concentrating.

Who will you turn to for guidance whenever you do decide?

Longar Longar, my big brother, and then another cousin named Jok Jok…and then my uncles. They all look after me and guide me in life.

Are your uncles in Kansas?

My main uncle is in Minnesota and then my guardian…he guides me too.

His name's Mike Nixon.

Yes, Mike Nixon.
 
Although it'll only be until June, what are you hoping to accomplish this summer?

Not much. Just trying to wait until this knee gets healed.

Will you be able to work on your upper-body when you're in rehab?

Yes, when I get to rehab, I will.
 

So, it won't be wasted time?

Yeah, hopefully not.

What will you be looking for ideally in the program that you ultimately decide upon?

Just a team that runs and a good coaching staff.

So, you prefer an up-tempo system.

Yeah, definitely.

 

You've come a long way already and your brother's in Philadelphia, but will distance be a factor for you?

I really don't know. I'm not sure.

Do you have a time when you'd like to decide by?

To be honest, I'm not really thinking at all about recruiting.

What are some of your outside interests, outside of school and basketball?

I like hanging out with my girl.

Well, that's a first, but probably a good use of your time.
(laughs)

 

Now, does she play too?

Yeah, she played a little bit at my old school.
 

I know that's a touchy issue in your area and, perhaps, you'd rather not talk about it, but was it difficult for you to leave your prior school in the middle of the year?

Yeah, it was difficult, but…I don't know.

 

In doing my research, I was surprised at how much discussion or contention there was over you leaving your prior school and joining a new one. Were you surprised  by that?

Yeah, I tried not to pay too much attention to it at the time.

 

Well, good luck at the new school. Was transferring a big deal to you?

Yeah, no, I was surprised by all of that.

Is it difficult for you to be separated from your mother so often?

Yeah, well, you get used to it. She came back last night. She goes back and forth a lot.

I've been there many times, but how did you land in Des Moines  or the greater Des Moines area, of all places?

My grandma was there.

Oh, your grandmother. That makes sense.

Yeah, she was living there.

What has your brother, Dau (freshman at Penn), told you so far about college basketball and the adjustments that he's had to make, as he's stepped up in competition? Has he offered you advice?

He's talked about the need to tighten your ball-handling as much as possible and concentrate on defense a lot more in high school. Play as hard on that end as you can.

Do you guys plan on playing with or against each other this summer?

No, but we used to play all of the time when he was in high school.

Are you a good student as well? I figure, with your brother at Penn, you've got to be a pretty good student.

Oh, yeah, my mom's all about that. My mother would never let me or my brothers get away without studying or putting in a good effort. She values an education.

That's good to hear.Do you have a favorite NBA team?

Oh, the Lakers. The Lakers are my team. I love Kobe Bryant.

You mentioned before that Duke had called your house recently.

Yeah, they called my guardian.

 

Do you know which coach called?

No, I have no idea.

Would you be interested in them, if they decided to pursue you?
In Duke?

Sure, I would.

What's your current height and weight? What height are you projected to be?

They say I'l be somewhere between 6'8 and 6'10." I currently 6'6" and 194.

 

What would you like to weigh by next high school season? You mentioned before that you were planning on working on your upper-body while you're rehabbing.

Yeah, I'd like to weigh somewhere between 210 and 215 by the start of the season.

How are you going to try to keep the mid-range and three-point shot that you've been working on, while going through all of that rehab?

They said, after a couple of months, that I'll be able to shoot on it. It shouldn't hurt my shot that bad.

I would think this would be the case, but has it dramatically affected your leaping ability?

Oh, yeah, it has. It's been terrible.

Yeah, in the past, I though you were frankly more explosive than you've demonstrated recently, but your shot is a lot more consistent.

Yeah, I was a lot more explosive

 

Hopefully, after this surgery, we'll see you skying through the air again.

Yeah, I hope so.

 

Do you feel that you're a better a shooter as well now?

Yeah, I think so.

In terms of next year in high school, what are you hoping to accomplish?

Win the state. Last year, we got knocked out way too early, but, next year, we should be really good.

Thank you very much for your time.

Oh, sure. [/private]

BDN Recruiting Focus – 2013 Prospect Peter Jok

2013 Prospect Peter Jok
2013 Prospect Peter Jok-Photo credit spacinvacio.com

HAMPTON, Va - A prospect to keep an eye on is Peter Jok of All Iowa Attack.  Jok stands a slender 6-6 and is a slender 185 but his potential has many excited about the class of 2013 product.  Jok is represented by his [private] AAU coach Henry Huddleson and a handler and saying he is soft spoken, giving up little information is an understatement.  In fact, during my interview, if you can call it that, the fellow at NBADraft.net came up to listen in.  Afterwards, he stated I just wanted to see if you could get anything out of him for you usually have success.

Obviously, I got very little out of him too and this was my first experience with Jok.  I kind of got the impression that his handler has told him to say very little forcing one to go through him to get anything tangible.

Jok actually clammed up a bit when NBADraft.net came in about the time I asked him a question on recruiting.

When asked to describe his game, Jok said, "I'm an inside-out player, playing all the positions."  I then asked if he considered himself a hybrid of sorts and he stated, "It changes every time, depending on who is guarding me.  If it's a small man guarding me I take him inside and if it is a big, I take him outside.

"I am not allowed to talk about recruiting, my guardian handles that, said Jok.  Jok is represented by Mike Nixon and he tells him what people and or coaches are saying and such.

He wants to play for a running team that gets up and down the court and loves Kevin Durrant, probably the most mentioned player of the weekend these kids look up to these days.

"My goal is just to get better as a player and as a team and that's what I came here to do," said Jok.  Off the court, he gave the standardized answer of going to movies, hanging out with friends and practicing hoops.

Jok recently transferred to WDM Valley in West Des Moines, Iowa.  His All Iowa Attack team has a portion of what will be his high school teams starting five this coming season.  Jok had to transfer before April to be eligible and just did so a week ago.

The 2013 prospect has a nice game but needs strength.  He runs in a smooth manner and is active on the glass but is still deferring to his teammates at this point in the AAU season.  Jok played very well early one but had a couple of games where his stats were a bit meager.  Jok, is well spoken, seems grounded and seems to have a good deal of discipline and focus.

BDN Premium will keep an eye on Jok as the AAU season heats up and he is one of the kids on that long list of look-sees for the Blue Devils staff. [/private]

Rasheed Sulaimon helps Duke recruit, Tony Parker out today

Rasheed Sulaimon - BDN Photo

One of the things that recruits do once they sign is go after other prospects to play with them.  Rasheed Sulaimon shares a bit on that in this exclusive video.  We also update the NYBL statistical leaders. In another note, Tony Parker is sitting out his teams morning game with back spasms.  Much more [private] to come on BDN Premium.



THE STAT CREW SYSTEM Tournament Individual Leaders (as of Apr 09, 2011) All games POINTS G Pts Pts/G --------------------------------------------- Calhoun,Omar-C6............... 3 88 29.3 Purvis,Rodney-D4.............. 3 78 26.0 Ledo,Ricardo-A1............... 3 67 22.3 Smith-Rivera,D'Vante-A8....... 3 67 22.3 Wilson Jr.,Duane-C9........... 3 62 20.7 Goodwin,Archie-D1............. 3 62 20.7 Goodwin,William-B10........... 3 62 20.7 Bennett,Anthony-C4............ 3 57 19.0 Poythress,Alex-C5............. 3 56 18.7 Jones,Matthew-B8.............. 3 55 18.3 Hearn,Lorenzo-A5.............. 3 55 18.3 Cassell,Samuel-D2............. 3 54 18.0 POINTS AVERAGE G Pts Avg/G -------------------------------------------- Calhoun,Omar-C6............... 3 88 29.3 Purvis,Rodney-D4.............. 3 78 26.0 Zierdan, Isiah-A4............. 1 24 24.0 Smith-Rivera,D'Vante-A8....... 3 67 22.3 Ledo,Ricardo-A1............... 3 67 22.3 Brantly,J-B2.................. 2 44 22.0 Taylor,Steve-B4............... 2 42 21.0 Robintson,Jalen-B1............ 1 21 21.0 Goodwin,William-B10........... 3 62 20.7 Goodwin,Archie-D1............. 3 62 20.7 Wilson Jr.,Duane-C9........... 3 62 20.7 Noel-B2....................... 1 20 20.0 FIELD GOAL PCT (min. 5 made) FG ATT Pct -------------------------------------------- Chrabasz-B2................... 5 5 1.000 Turner,AJ-D1.................. 5 5 1.000 Rector,Shane-C6............... 5 5 1.000 Newman, CJ-A4................. 5 6 .833 Dotson,Damyean-D5............. 10 12 .833 Hebert, Benn-A4............... 5 6 .833 Robinson,Jalen-B1............. 10 13 .769 Jones,Torren-D3............... 9 12 .750 Bhullar,Sim-C4................ 9 12 .750 Noel-B2....................... 9 12 .750 Richardson,Jerico-D3.......... 5 7 .714 Baety,David-A3................ 5 7 .714 Feidanga,Glenn-C7............. 5 7 .714 Hughes,Sam-B3................. 10 14 .714 Jankovic,Stefan-C4............ 5 7 .714 FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS G Att Att/G --------------------------------------------- Calhoun,Omar-C6............... 3 57 19.0 Purvis,Rodney-D4.............. 3 56 18.7 Wilson Jr.,Duane-C9........... 3 54 18.0 Smith-Rivera,D'Vante-A8....... 3 52 17.3 Ledo,Ricardo-A1............... 3 47 15.7 Ogbueze,Braxton-B3............ 3 47 15.7 Jones,Matthew-B8.............. 3 47 15.7 FIELD GOALS MADE G Made Made/G --------------------------------------------- Purvis,Rodney-D4.............. 3 29 9.7 Calhoun,Omar-C6............... 3 28 9.3 Ledo,Ricardo-A1............... 3 25 8.3 Poythress,Alex-C5............. 3 22 7.3 Smith-Rivera,D'Vante-A8....... 3 22 7.3 3-POINT FG PCT (min. 4 made) 3FG ATT Pct -------------------------------------------- White,Marcel-A3............... 4 5 .800 Rozier,Terry-B1............... 7 9 .778 Kanenski,Kenny-B1............. 8 11 .727 Jones,Tyus-A4................. 5 7 .714 Bell,Anthlon-B10.............. 13 19 .684 Young,Alex-D6................. 4 6 .667 Nolte,Evan-D8................. 8 12 .667 Starks,Juwan-B5............... 5 8 .625 Wood,Darrick-C8............... 5 8 .625 Woodard,Jordan-C2............. 5 8 .625 Scott,Brenton-A8.............. 9 15 .600 Hearn,Lorenzo-A5.............. 9 15 .600 3-POINT FG ATTEMPTS G Att Att/G --------------------------------------------- Jones,Matthew-B8.............. 3 32 10.7 Price,Jodan-B9................ 3 25 8.3 Ruder,Austin-D10.............. 3 24 8.0 Clark,Stephen-C2.............. 3 23 7.7 Troutt,Preston-B8............. 3 23 7.7 3-POINT FGS MADE G Made Made/G --------------------------------------------- Bell,Anthlon-B10.............. 3 13 4.3 Jones,Matthew-B8.............. 3 12 4.0 Price,Jodan-B9................ 3 11 3.7 Vasquez,Ian-B6................ 3 11 3.7 Ruder,Austin-D10.............. 3 10 3.3 Fortune,Josh-C3............... 3 10 3.3 FREE THROW PCT (min. 5 made) FT ATT Pct -------------------------------------------- Pretlow,Donte-D2.............. 7 7 1.000 Bull,D-B2..................... 5 5 1.000 Wiley,Jordan-D6............... 5 5 1.000 Zierdan, Isiah-A4............. 7 7 1.000 Wintering,Alec-B3............. 6 6 1.000 Love,Carrington-C9............ 9 9 1.000 Walker,DeVon-C7............... 9 9 1.000 Zierden,Isaiah-A4............. 7 7 1.000 Anderson,D-A4................. 5 5 1.000 Hearn,Lorenzo-A5.............. 6 6 1.000 Coleman,Marqueze-D3........... 16 16 1.000 Cassell,Samuel-D2............. 17 18 .944 FREE THROW ATTEMPTS G Att Att/G --------------------------------------------- Goodwin,William-B10........... 3 34 11.3 Calhoun,Omar-C6............... 3 29 9.7 Gathers,Ricardo-A6............ 3 28 9.3 Lomomba,Jurior-B9............. 3 27 9.0 Ugbede,Daddy-D3............... 3 27 9.0 Goodwin,Archie-D1............. 3 27 9.0 FREE THROWS MADE G Made Made/G --------------------------------------------- Purvis,Rodney-D4.............. 3 11 3.7 Calhoun,Omar-C6............... 3 24 8.0 Ledo,Ricardo-A1............... 3 9 3.0 Smith-Rivera,D'Vante-A8....... 3 20 6.7 Poythress,Alex-C5............. 3 10 3.3 REBOUNDS G Reb Reb/G --------------------------------------------- Gordon,Aaron-A2............... 3 39 13.0 Gathers,Ricardo-A6............ 3 38 12.7 Morgan,Jermaine-B4............ 3 31 10.3 Randle,Julius-B8.............. 3 29 9.7 Jefferson,Rondae-B7........... 3 28 9.3 Cauley,Willie-D10............. 3 28 9.3 Coleman,DaJuan-A1............. 3 28 9.3 REBOUND AVERAGE G Reb Avg/G --------------------------------------------- Robintson,Jalen-B1............ 1 13 13.0 Noel-B2....................... 1 13 13.0 Gordon,Aaron-A2............... 3 39 13.0 Gathers,Ricardo-A6............ 3 38 12.7 Tobey,Mike-C6................. 2 24 12.0 ASSISTS G No. A/G --------------------------------------------- Anderson,Kyle-C8.............. 3 25 8.3 Reese,J-Mychal-D5............. 3 19 6.3 Smith-Rivera,D'Vante-A8....... 3 19 6.3 Bagtas,Tony-D8................ 3 19 6.3 Dabney,Louis-A6............... 3 16 5.3 STEALS G No. S/G --------------------------------------------- Artis,Dominic-A2.............. 4 9 2.3 Cassell,Samuel-D2............. 3 8 2.7 Woodard,Jordan-C2............. 4 8 2.0 Reese,J-Mychal-D5............. 3 8 2.7 Jefferson,Rondae-B7........... 3 7 2.3 Amerson,Kendahl-B9............ 3 7 2.3 Anderson,Kyle-C8.............. 3 7 2.3 Randolph,Derrick-B4........... 3 7 2.3 Richmond,Jaquel-B3............ 3 7 2.3 Moungoro,Boubacar-A3.......... 3 7 2.3 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS G No. Avg/G --------------------------------------------- Morgan,Jermaine-B4............ 3 19 6.3 Wiley,Willie-D9............... 3 13 4.3 Gathers,Ricardo-A6............ 3 12 4.0 Bridgewater,Brian-D5.......... 3 12 4.0 Auguste,Zach-A1............... 3 12 4.0 Miles,Isaiah-D2............... 3 12 4.0 DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS G No. Avg/G --------------------------------------------- Gordon,Aaron-A2............... 3 29 9.7 Gathers,Ricardo-A6............ 3 26 8.7 Randle,Julius-B8.............. 3 25 8.3 Jefferson,Rondae-B7........... 3 19 6.3 Pinson,Theo-D4................ 3 19 6.3 Hale,Shannon-A10.............. 3 19 6.3 Coleman,DaJuan-A1............. 3 19 6.3 Cauley,Willie-D10............. 3 19 6.3 BLOCKED SHOTS G No. Blk/G --------------------------------------------- Tobey,Mike-C6................. 2 14 7.0 Poythress,Alex-C5............. 3 9 3.0 Noel,N-B2..................... 2 8 4.0 Wiley,Willie-D9............... 3 8 2.7 Gordon,Aaron-A2............... 3 8 2.7 MINUTES G No. Min/G --------------------------------------------- Purvis,Rodney-D4.............. 3 107 35.7 Adala Moto,Arnaud-A9.......... 3 106 35.3 Woodard,Jordan-C2............. 4 103 25.8 Wilson, Tamarico-D7........... 3 98 32.7 Artis,Dominic-A2.............. 4 96 24.0
cortesy of stat com. [/private]