Jongkuch Mach
| No. 18 – Centre of Excellence | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBL1 East |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 8, 2007 |
| Listed height | 229 cm (7 ft 6 in) |
| Career history | |
| 2025- | BA Centre of Excellence |
Jongkuch Mach (born 8 October 2007), also called "JK", is an Australian basketball player who plays as a centre. He currently competes for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East.
Early life
[edit]Mach was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia and is of South Sudanese descent.[1]
Mach did not compete in organised sports until he was 14 years old.[2] By this age, he had reached 193 cm (6 ft 7 in). Now at 229 cm (7 ft 6 in), Mach is only 3 cm (1 in) shorter than the two tallest people who have ever played in the NBA, Gheoghe Mureşan and Manute Bol.[3] As of 2026, he is also taller than every current player in the NBA.
Mach moved to Canberra for his basketball career. He reportedly keeps in touch with his family in Perth by calling his siblings every day.[2]
Basketball career
[edit]Centre of Excellence and NBL1
[edit]Mach competes for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, the second-tier senior league in Australia, representing the Australian Institute of Sport.[3] He has received college offers from Louisiana State University, Colorado and Santa Clara.[2]
Mach was part of the NBL Next Stars team at the 2026 adidas Eurocamp, which won the competition. He has been praised for his shot-blocking skills, with the highest number of blocks per game (3).[4]
Mach has said that in the future, he would like to be "in San Antonio, playing with Victor Wembanyama.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "7'6 Aussie phenom Jongkuch Mach is taller than NBA freak Victor Wembanyama. He is facing a $1m decision". Fox Sports. 2026-01-20. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- 1 2 3 4 Drennan, Jonathan (2026-05-19). "The 229cm teenager with NBA scouts watching – and a dream to join Wemby". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
- 1 2 "Meet 7'6 Aussie 17-year-old Jongkuch Mach | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "229cm teen puts the basketball world on notice". nbl.com.au. Retrieved 2026-08-09.