From South Sudan to the NBL Champion: The Incredible Journey of Kuany Kuany

Though initially hesitant and homesick, Kuany found stability, structure, and support in the Westerberg household. From late-night burritos after his arrival, to ground rules and curfews that mirrored those given to the Westerbergs’ own children, Kuany was held to high standards both on and off the court. Over time, trust grew. He built new friendships, attended prom thanks to a classmate named Lulu, and fully embraced his senior year in the Napa Valley. Mike Westergerg said "We were fortunate we got Kuany, he is a terrific person, has a huge heart, cares about others, and wants to change the world."

Behind the scenes, the Westerbergs encouraged Kuany to take academics seriously. "My wife and I stressed how important it was to finish his education and eventually he began to realize we might be right. We pushed him hard about getting good grades and he buckled down big time to finish strong his senior year at Prolific Prep."  Kuany's original plan was to play a year of college basketball and turn pro, but through conversations, late-night rides, and shared family values, the message began to sink in—education was just as important as the game.

That guidance paid off. Kuany earned a scholarship to Cal Berkeley, where he played four seasons for the Golden Bears and graduated with a degree in sociology. "His recruiting process was very stressful, but his older brother was a big help for him, and Kuany took me along on a couple recruiting trips when his brother was not able. We were so proud that Kuany was accepted to one of the most premier Colleges Cal Berkeley said the Westerbergs." He then transferred to VCU for his COVID-19 bonus year, where he averaged 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game and earned a master’s degree in the process.

After college, Kuany fulfilled two of his biggest dreams: he was selected to represent South Sudan’s national team and signed his first professional contract with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian NBL. In March of this year, the Hawks captured the NBL Championship, adding another milestone to Kuany’s growing legacy.

For the Westerbergs, watching Kuany’s journey has been more than rewarding—it’s been life-changing. "I told Kuany, Mike Westerberg said, we might not be blood but you are a part of our family now and we want to see you succeed with all the great goals he has in his life. I told him when he ever meets his person to live out his life with, we will travel to Australia to be a part of that celebration and celebrate with his family again. We were fortunate that it all lined up that Kuany entered our lives, I think he would agree. He is definitely part of our family now, and we are grateful to have gone through the experience with him and his teammates. We’re so proud of the man he’s become.”

Today, Kuany Kuany stands as a symbol of what can happen when opportunity meets support, discipline, and heart. From a hopeful young athlete in South Sudan to an NBL champion and college graduate, Kuany’s Grind Session roots were just the beginning of a remarkable story still being written.