Peter Jok
Peter Jok | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kacoul Dut Jok March 30, 1994 Rumbek, Sudan (now South Sudan) |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Known for | Basketball career with University of Iowa and professional teams including Cibona Zagreb |
Kacoul Dut "Peter" Jok (born 30 March 1994) is a professional basketball athlete from South Sudan currently playing for Cibona Zagreb in the Croatian League as well as the ABA League. He competed collegiately at the University of Iowa with the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference. A versatile swingman, Jok hails from Rumbek. He has represented South Sudan at both the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics.
Early life
Born and raised in Rumbek, then part of Sudan, Jok’s early years were shaped by conflict. His father, who served as a general in the Sudan People's Liberation Army, along with his grandfather, the local village chief, both lost their lives during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Initially introduced to football, Jok’s family sought refuge first in Uganda and later in Kenya, before eventually settling in Des Moines, Iowa, in December 2003. Upon arrival in the United States, he was not yet proficient in English.
Jok’s basketball journey began unexpectedly in fourth grade when Mike Nixon invited him to join a fourth-grade team competing in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), despite his limited background in the sport. He distinguished himself by earning all-tournament recognition at the AAU state championship and secured a victory at the Spiece tournament during seventh grade. By eighth grade, his talent had already attracted attention from college scouts.
High school career
Jok spent his initial two high school basketball seasons at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. As a freshman, he was ranked among the nation’s top 10 recruits by Scout.com. In 2010, he took part in the Nike Top 100 camp held in St. Louis, but suffered a knee injury that was later identified as a torn patellar tendon, necessitating surgery in June 2011. During his sophomore year, Jok averaged 18.5 points and seven rebounds per game, earning second-team all-state and all-conference accolades.[1] After that season, he transferred to Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he played under coach and former University of Iowa assists leader Jeff Horner. Although initially hampered by his injury, he rebounded to post averages of 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior while shooting 37% from beyond the arc.[1] In his final year of high school basketball, Jok earned first-team all-state honors and was named a first-team Parade All-American after leading Iowa Class 4A with an average of 23.6 points per game.[1]
College career
During his freshman year at the University of Iowa, Jok saw limited playing time, averaging just 9.4 minutes and scoring 4.4 points per game.[1] Notably, he set a freshman record by scoring double digits on over 80% shooting during an NCAA tournament first-round victory against Tennessee.[1] As a sophomore, Jok appeared in all 34 games and improved his scoring to 7.0 points per contest while connecting on 34.3% of his three-point attempts. His junior campaign marked significant advancement as he averaged 16.1 points over 27.7 minutes per game and shot an impressive 40.2% from three-point range.[1] His performance earned him second-team honors within the Big Ten Conference.
In his senior year, Jok led the Big Ten with an average of 19.9 points per game while also contributing 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 30.7 minutes each outing. He topped conference charts with a free throw percentage of 91.1% and ranked fifth for three-point shooting accuracy at 38%. His achievements garnered him first-team all-conference recognition, AP Senior All-American status, and an honorable mention on the AP All-American team. Additionally, Jok claimed victory in the College Three-Point Shooting contest held at the Final Four on his 23rd birthday.
Jok completed his collegiate tenure having amassed more than 1,500 points along with over 400 rebounds.
Northern Arizona Suns (2017–2019)
After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Jok participated with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2017 NBA Summer League, where he averaged approximately nine points across three games. On 22 September 2017, he inked a partially guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns, but was released prior to appearing in any games on 11 October. Subsequently, on 24 October, he joined the Northern Arizona Suns as an affiliate player. Jok made his professional debut on 4 November, logging limited playing time and securing a rebound in a 126–118 defeat against the Agua Caliente Clippers. Over his tenure with Northern Arizona, he posted averages of 4.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per contest.
In the first matchup of the 2018–19 NBA G League season, Jok recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, along with two assists, despite the team's 118–108 loss to the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Cholet Basket (2019–2020)
On 17 July 2019, Jok signed with Cholet Basket competing in France's top-tier league, LNB Pro A. During his stint there, he averaged 10.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
UCAM Murcia (2020–2021)
Jok secured a contract with UCAM Murcia of Spain’s premier basketball division, the Liga ACB, on 27 June 2020.
Second stint with Cholet Basket (2021–2022)
He returned to play for Cholet Basket in France's LNB Pro A on 2 July 2021.
Sioux Falls Skyforce (2023–2024)
Jok joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League on 16 December 2023 but was waived less than a month later on 14 January 2024. He re-signed with Sioux Falls on 23 February but was again released on 11 March.
Ottawa BlackJacks (2024)
On 19 March 2024, Jok signed with the Ottawa BlackJacks in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), though he was waived on 3 June.
Cibona (2024–present)
Most recently, on 6 September 2024, Jok committed to Cibona, competing in both the Croatian League and the regional ABA League.
Personal life
Jok’s mother, Amelia Ring Bol, serves as a parliamentarian in South Sudan. His legal guardian during his time in Iowa is Mike Nixon. He has two brothers: an elder sibling named Dau and a younger brother Jo Jo, who played defensive line football at Dowling Catholic High School and Iowa Western Community College. Jok is related to former NBA player Manute Bol, who was his uncle, and is connected to Manute’s son Bol Bol. Additionally, former Chicago Bull Luol Deng is a maternal cousin.
In April 2014, Jok faced an arrest for driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of .082 and subsequently had his driver’s license revoked. He admitted guilt and completed a weekend intervention program. A few months later in July 2014, he was arrested again for driving while his license was revoked and served four days in jail; despite these incidents, his team status remained unaffected.