Kon Deng, Holy Cross Catholic Academy basketball, Sr.
On the court: The Holy Cross Catholic Catholic Academy Mustangs made school history by bringing home the programs first ever TAPPS Class 2A state championship last week with wins over First Baptist and Beaumont Legacy Christian in Waco. Deng, the senior prolific scorer, lit up both First Baptist and Legacy Christian in those pair of monumental victories. Against First Baptist, Deng paced Holy Cross with a team-high 29 points in a thrilling 63-55 double overtime win. In the state championship game against Legacy Christian, Deng posted a team-high 22 points, to combine for 51 points during the state tournament.
On the season, Deng ended a fantastic year, averaging close to 20 points a night.
Coach Austin Turner: “Winning the state championship was a year-long goal for this team and they achieved it. It was unbelievable and we still can’t believe it happened. It has huge for the Holy Cross community, and this community is very selfless. Kong is an amazing young man. He does whatever is asked of him and he’s such a competitor. I think he’s special when it comes to his playmaking ability and he takes the right shots at the right times. He has a very high basketball IQ, and it has been an honor to coach a young man like that.”
Deng: “Winning a state championship was awesome and a true blessing. We only won two games my freshman year, so this program has come a long way. We are a very close-knit group and we all play for each other. We were so competitive in practice and our goal was to just get better and bring back a state title. I think this year, my personal goal was to get better on my jumper and my basketball IQ. I think I was able to accomplish both of those.”
About Deng
Favorite band or musician: NBA Youngboy
Favorite social media platform: TikTok
Favorite athlete: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Bet you didn’t know: He loves to play video games.
Parents: Marko Kon and Elizabeth Akol.