POCATELLO, Idaho- When
Chier Maker steps onto a basketball court it has meaning. The Bengal senior is playing for his parents who live in South Sudan, Africa or his siblings and other family members that live in Sydney, Australia. Maker is playing for opportunity to play professionally after he graduates with his degree in communications and emphasis in leadership this spring. He will be the first in his family to receive a college degree.
"They look up to me with me being the oldest," Maker said. "I am not just playing basketball. I am playing basketball and getting an education. It is not just about the sport. It is about playing what you love and getting a free education."
Early in Maker's life the opportunity to get an education in America let alone play Division 1 basketball was far from his mind.
Growing up in South Sudan, Maker grew up playing soccer. While he played soccer Maker was more concerned with making sure he and his family were safe.
"South Sudan is a war torn country," Maker said. "We escaped from that. We went to Kenya and lived there for three years before moving to Australia. It was a good opportunity for our family to get an education, to be free and not worry about the war."
When Maker fled to Kenya and then Australia he did it without his parents. Only he and his two siblings, aunt and uncle made the trek. Maker hasn't seen his parents since 2016.
"My mom and dad can't leave the country because my dad is a leader of a town," Maker said. "When I was kid I was more concerned of our safety. I didn't even think about if I was going to play basketball. In my mind it was about safety first. How are we going to survive in this situation with my family. I never envisioned myself playing basketball and being here right now."
After making the move to Sydney, Australia when he was eight, Maker was in a situation where he had to adapt to the environment and culture while learning English.
"It was a good experience for us for sure," Maker said. "Coming to a place where you have freedom to do anything you want was new for us."
After a few years of soccer and getting acclimated in Sydney, Maker's basketball career began when he was 12 years old.
 "There was one time I went to soccer practice," Maker said. "I was on the bus but I forgot my soccer boot. That was the day I said I was going to try something different. From then I said I am going to stick with basketball and never look back."
He's done just that.
As a sophomore in high school Maker grew from 6-4 to 6-7 and with the added height came added opportunities to play collegiate basketball.
Maker signed with Portland where he redshirted the 2015-16 season and then played 19 games as a redshirt freshman the following year. Maker then transferred to Palm Beach State for a season and averaged 10.4 points and six rebounds a game.
Last year Maker averaged just over eight points a game while starting in all 30 games in his first year at Idaho State.
Maker is on pace to graduate with a degree in communications and an emphasis on leadership.
Maker hopes to continue playing basketball after his time at Idaho State concludes. But no matter what happens with basketball after college Maker has set an example to his family on what you can accomplish when you work hard.
"My parents don't know anything about basketball but they are proud of how far I have come," Maker said.
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