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Kenyan basketball sensation Madina Okot set for US University after two-year wait for visa
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 20.08.24. | 20:21
Okot was granted her visa on Tuesday, paving the way for her departure to the United States
Trailblazing basketballer Madina Okot can finally breathe a sigh of relief after securing her US visa following years of anticipation and bureaucratic hurdles.
With the long-awaited clearance, Okot is set to join Mississippi State University, where she will hone her skills and gain invaluable experience at the college level.
Okot was granted her visa on Tuesday, paving the way for her departure to the United States.
The youngster faced setbacks in her previous attempts, having unsuccessfully applied for the visa three times. She however remained resilient, determined to pursue her dream of playing professionally. Thanks to NBA Kenya, she is now set for the exciting journey.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Okot noted that her dream of competing in the Women’s National Basketball Association was finally within sight.
“This journey started in 2022 but it did not succeed. I tried again in 2023 but it did not go through. I tried again in 2024, still unsuccessful, but my fourth trial went through.
I will be joining Mississippi State University. It is a big institution with a high education level and the basketball is top-notch. They compete in Division One. I will study for my degree and also sharpen my basketball skills,” Okot offered.
This milestone is a significant leap towards turning her dreams into reality, and the Kaya Tiwi High School alumni could not contain her joy.
“I was very happy when I got the visa. My heart melted. I smiled all the way to the gate. I thank God because it has not been easy. The joining date will be communicated. All my coaches since high school have been motivating me to grind harder and told me that I have a good height,” she averred.
Okot further noted that the opportunity will help her change her family’s fortunes as well as inject new energy into the national team.
“As a player, I will change my family’s financial situation and use the skills I learn there to represent my country in the national team. To any player out there, hard work, prayer, and discipline are the main ingredients of success,” she said.
Aware of the high level of competition and the demands of college basketball, Okot knows that this new chapter will push her to the limits. She however remained confident in her abilities.
“In Mississippi, things are not going to be easy. Nobody works hard for those opportunities and jokes when they get there. I will stay disciplined and motivate myself,” she concluded.
This is a great career move for Okot which comes after she guided Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to a second-place finish in the Africa Women’s Basketball League last year, where she made the Team of the Tournament.
She started 2023 on a high by featuring in one of the grandest basketball stages, the inaugural women's Nike Hoop Summit where she made history as the only African player to make the World Select Women's Team roster.
It was the Nike Hoop Summit that thrust her into the spotlight, catching the eye of Mississippi State women's basketball head coach Sam Purcell who added her to his team’s roster as a freshman.
2023 was also the year she made her debut in the national 5-aside team for Kenya Lionesses during the FIBA Women's Afro Basket qualifiers averaging 9.8 points per game and 14.4 rebounds.
The Zetech Sparks centre signed for KPA in 2022 and led them to claim the Kenya Basketball Federation league title the same year. While at KPA, Okot went for her maiden national team assignment in the 3x3 version of the sport.
The 2022 Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) Most Promising Player was also part of the Kenya Under-23 side that qualified for the 3×3 World Championships in Romania for the first time.
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