Okot’s journey started removed from the highlight because the fifth of eight kids in her hometown of Mumias in western Kenya.
She initially excelled in volleyball at Bishop Sulumeti Excessive Faculty in Kakamega County earlier than being persuaded to maneuver throughout the nation in 2020 to hitch Kaya Tiwi Secondary, a faculty on the east coast close to Mombasa which has produced a few of Kenyan basketball’s largest names.
“I used to be nearly scared to strive basketball,” she recalled.
“However once I began taking part in I fell in love with the sport so shortly.”
Her uncooked expertise propelled her by means of Kenya’s nationwide youth groups, with school sides in america alerted to her potential after she featured within the 3×3 basketball match on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham.
Nonetheless, moving into the USA examined her resilience, as Okot confronted no fewer than 4 visa rejections in her bids to hitch Troy College in Alabama after which Jap Michigan College.
“It was powerful. I felt like giving up a number of instances,” Okot revealed.
“The second, third and fourth one I cried so arduous.
“I had a safety guard taking me to my [taxi]. I felt so unhealthy.”
Having questioned whether or not to proceed a course of she described as “so heart-breaking, so discouraging”, Okot believes her mother and father’ prayers and her personal resolve finally carried her by means of.
Aid lastly got here on a day in August 2024 that was already marked for celebration.
“The day that I bought my visa was my birthday,” she mentioned with a broad smile throughout her face.
“That was my greatest birthday present I’ve ever bought.
“I am so grateful to my mum and my dad and everyone else that stored convincing me to maintain attempting.”
