From Handball to Hardwood: How 7-foot-2 Malick Kordel went from Germany to Michigan

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New Michigan big man Malick Kordel’s path to Ann Arbor is anything but traditional. The 7-foot-2, 275-pound center from Germany had never even thought of playing college basketball a few years ago. He didn’t even think about playing basketball at all until he was searching for a way to stay active during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kordel grew up playing handball for his local club. Despite his 7-foot-2 frame, he had rarely shown interest when family and friends suggested he play basketball. Instead, he enjoyed the camaraderie and relationships he built with his handball teammates and remained focused on that sport.

When COVID-19 hit and Kordel’s handball league was shut down, he looked to the blacktop. He started playing basketball outside, in large part to get back in shape after his weight crept up to 300 pounds.

One thing led to another, and Kordel went from learning how to play basketball outside to playing college basketball at Michigan in just a few years.

“Everybody was telling me when I was playing outside that I have potential,” he said on today’s episode of Defend the Block. “Even though I started at maybe 17 or 18, I still have the potential to get to a higher league and to make it to the professionals. Yeah, and then I just started, and I had fun. I liked the competition, it was way bigger competition than in handball. That’s what I always wanted.”