Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

It was difficult enough for their 4A rivals in the West Valley to deal with Peoria Panthers star Lahad Adehim, a 6-4 wing with a huge wingspan who is disruptive all over the court defensively, rebounds, finishes in traffic and is left handed.

Now they have to contend with a near-mirror image in fellow 6-5 senior Khot Anyieth, whose statistics and impact on a game are suddenly almost equal to Adehim’s.

While both families originate from South Sudan and ended up in the same general area of Peoria, and the kids knew each other midway through elementary school, they did not team up for the Panthers before last season, and did not flourish as a duo until this year.

“I always knew if they would take it seriously at the same time, really commit their lives to excellence — like being the best students they could be and being committed to our pillars here at Peoria — that we could have a pretty good season and that’s what’s happening right now,” Peoria coach Will Roberts said. “I don’t have to worry about what they’re doing. I know they’re going to be at study tables or in class. As a coach it makes your job easier when all you have to do is coach basketball.”

Roberts saw the vision of what these two young men could be about six years ago, but had reason to wonder if it would ever come to fruition.

Both students have spent all of their formative years in the United States and know of their homeland mostly through family stories. The Adehim family settled in Peoria fairly quickly, while the Anyieths moved to Memphis before ending up in Arizona.

Neither played basketball often growing up, and some of their earliest memories of the game are tied to playing for Team M’Phasis, a club that Roberts founded in Peoria in 2004.

Team M’Phasis is not what one thinks of as a typical basketball club. It is a faith-based group for young men that emphasizes leadership and community service.

Adehim said Team M’Phasis helped him mature in his formative years and meet more people in the community.

“I grew up and matured more, off the court and on,” Anyieth said.

His older brother, Madit, graduated from Peoria in 2011 and played for the Panthers’ 4A semifinalist team this year.

Meanwhile, Khot was going to Challenger Middle School in Glendale before Peoria. And on into high school, he was struggling, Roberts said.

It all clicked for him this summer and on into the school year, the coach said, and watching Khot grow up has been one of the highlights of the season.

“I’ve known Khot a very long time. I’m actually very close to his brother. We ultimately had to get Khot to take things more seriously and take academics a lot more seriously,” Roberts said.

Last season, Anyieth’s first on the varsity, had signs of promise. He averaged 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Peoria has already played three more games this season than all of last year, yet Anyieth’s growth off the court continues to translate on the hardwood. Entering this week, he is averaging 10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Adehim had his breakout a year earlier, leading the Panthers in points (12.4) and rebounds (5.2). This season, he averages 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, a steal and almost a block per contest.

“I think I’ve been around Lahad a little bit longer. He is a two-sport athlete and a great runner. I always used to argue with him about taking basketball more seriously,” Roberts said.

The duo goes to church together. And, Roberts said, his wings have similarities but are also different. He said they are building a relationship where they can tell each other what needs to be said rather than the comfortable thing.

“We hang out a lot, so it’s easier on the court,” Adehim said.

Given their sometimes quiet nature, Adehim and Anyieth have become senior leaders for a mostly younger group around them. Peoria’s other starters are junior guard Kaleb Brown, sophomore guard Isaac Monroe and junior center John Price.

Roberts said he’s proud of this team, that the guys are growing up and going in the right direction and representing the campus and school very well.

“Our players are more consistent now. John is a really good player and Issac, the sophomore, is too. Kaleb, our point guard, has grown up a lot and knows how to handle things now,” Adehim said.

The Panthers are a bit under the radar in 4A, despite winning the Judy Dixon tournament at Greenway during winter break. Peoria is 15-7 overall, 5-1 in region play (just behind West Valley-leading Moon Valley) and No. 17 in the AIA 4A computer rankings.

Yet there is a sense this group is coming together, winning 10 of 12 games — with the only losses to Scottsdale Saguaro and Moon Valley.

“Our goal is to finish the season strong and go in the playoffs. We want to win a state championship,” Anyieth said.

Valley community colleges have shown interest in both wings for next season. Adehim said he wants to study business.

The duo is the latest in a decade-long line of Panthers basketball players with family roots in East Africa, from Japhet Niyizigama to Goch Ajak, to Madit Anyieth to Buoy Maker and now the current wings.

Roberts said it’s been an honor to watch these boys grow up and become part of the Peoria family and community.

“The cool thing is, I’ve been here long enough to see kids go through college now and have some serious success. (Madit Anyieth) is about to try to become a police officer. I’ve been able, with different resources, to allow boys to become men,” Roberts said. “I’ve been here a little while and I’m excited to see that. It’s also humbling and I’m getting old.”

Peoria senior wing Lahad Adehim (#52) is fouled by Sunrise Mountain's Logan Shinaut (#24) while driving to the basket on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 at Peoria High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]