Jongkuch Mach is getting impossible to ignore.
And it’s not because he stands out with his 7-foot-6 frame.
At just 18-years-old, Mach is taking Australia by storm, and has a plethora of US colleges lining up trying to recruit him, including LSU, Colorado, Washington State, South Carolina, Santa Clara, and UNC Charlotte.
Born in Perth, the big man made a move across the country to train at Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra that competes in the second-tier NBL1 competition.
“The big dream is to make the NBA,” Mach told Channel 9’s A Current Affair. “To be honest, I have an advantage, right? My advantage makes it easier for me.”
“It makes me feel great that I’ve got eyes on me [from some in the NBA],” he added. “It just makes me want to keep going and push harder.”
Mach currently lists at 7-foot-6 in height, though it is believed that he hasn’t finished growing just yet.
That is two inches taller than generational talent Victor Wembanyama, who is one of the NBA’s brightest stars, and is often referred to as the league’s ‘unicorn.’
Weighing a slight 197 pounds, he also has a 7-foot-8 wingspan, and a standing reach of 9-feet-11, meaning he can dunk a basketball without having to lift his feet up off of the ground.
According to his agent Solomon Dech, he is trying to pile on the weight as he seeks to get his body conditioned to withstand the physicality that is expected of a future professional.
“JK is a unique situation. Being 7’6” and just 18, it’s challenging – but he’s put on 20 kilos in the last 12 months,” Dech told Fox Sports in January.
“It’s a blessing and a curse at the same time, because being that tall comes with a lot of physical challenges. But I think what the Centre of Excellence has done is an excellent job stripping him back and rebuilding him properly.”
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But Mach now has a decision to make – join an NCAA collegiate program in the United States, or go through Australia’s Next Stars pathway, which has been a bold alternative for high-profile Americans, including R.J Hampton and NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball.
The most notable Australian to have come through the program is Josh Giddey, who wound up being selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
In the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals available to college athletes, Dech’s number one priority isn’t the money, but instead doing what is best for Mach’s development.
“Each athlete has a unique journey,” he said. “It’s important to sit down with the family, identify the ultimate goal, and then figure out the best developmental pathway to get there.
“Some guys work better in certain systems. Others are better suited to college or going overseas. It’s case by case – mentally and physically – and money is a by-product of the work they put in.”
Due to his height alone, Mach has already drawn comparisons to San Antonio Spurs star Wembanyama, with the Frenchman someone who Mach models his game after.
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But the 18-year-old’s CoE coach Robbie McKinlay stresses the importance that Wembanyama’s brilliance cannot be replicated by anybody.
“I was lucky enough to be on the [Australian] staff for the under-19 World Cup where Wemby played and he was physically different, you just looked like, okay, he’s big, but then on the floor, his ability to block shots and make shots was incredible,” McKinlay said.
“So I don’t want to compare him to Wemby, because Wemby’s a unicorn, but he’s in that mould. Everyone who looks at JK, they just go, oh my goodness, that’s a tall human being.”
As for Mach’s ceiling, it’s difficult to tell right now, but McKinlay believes he has certainly got the mindset to make the NBA and be great.
“The biggest thing for him is his work ethic, and that’s very strong, he’s very coachable, he wants to be coached,” McKinlay said.
“He knows he’s got a lot of work to do, but he’s not afraid of the work, and I think that’s what makes it so intriguing to NBA scouts, is how good can this kid get?
“He’s still a long way to go, but he’s showing signs he wants to get to that highest level, and we’re here to support that.”
As for where he’d like to play if he were to make it to the Association, Mach’s answer came without hesitation, “I want to be in San Antonio, playing with Victor Wembanyama.”
