Help Me Finish High School and Chase My Dream

Hello, my name is Atang Phahlamohlaka.

I am a 19-year-old South African basketball player and son of single mother Mologadi Phahlamohlaka. In 2023, I set off to the US, leaving behind my family and everything I’ve ever known, to chase my dream of playing basketball professionally and building a better future for myself, my family and my community through something I truly love.

I spent the 2023–24 school year in Jacksonville, Florida, at Potter's House Christian Academy, where I maintained a 4.0 GPA. I then spent this past school year in Novi Sad, Serbia, pushing myself even harder. I earned straight A’s and was one of the best students in my grade — all while continuing to develop my basketball game at a high level.

The last two years, I’ve been away from home, grinding day in and day out, staying disciplined and focused both academically and athletically. But those two school years weren’t fully paid for; I was on a partial scholarship, which meant my mother and grandmother carried the financial burde...