Freshmen Lana Koricanac and Marianah Achol have joined the Troy University women’s basketball team after taking unique paths from their home countries to the United States. Both athletes previously played together at Greenforest-McCalep Christian Academy in Decatur, Georgia, a school known for its strong basketball program and international student recruitment.
Coach Chanda Rigby first noticed Achol during an AAU game, which later led to recruiting both players. Achol, originally from Rumbek, South Sudan, was drawn to Rigby’s approach during the recruitment process. “I just liked the way she consistently talked to me and encouraged me on my basketball journey … like she really wanted me compared to other people,” Achol said. “She has a lot of leadership skills in her, and she knows how to talk to our players. She loves everyone equally and gives equal opportunities. That kind of builds your confidence as a player.”
Koricanac, from Belgrade, Serbia, attracted attention from Rigby and her staff while they were watching practice sessions at Greenforest during Achol’s recruitment. “The first time when they came, I didn’t even know that they were interested,” Koricanac said. “They came back a second time for me again and that’s when, like, all the things started.”
Both players had little knowledge about Troy University initially but soon learned more about its academic offerings and basketball achievements. Koricanac noted that it was the conversations with Coach Rigby and the team’s history of success that influenced her decision: “After that second conversation with Coach Rigby, I really started looking over the program and looking at the achievements … because she’s a really good coach, and she won the Sun Belt Conference championship multiple times, and other things.”
Koricanac began playing basketball at a young age under her father’s guidance in Serbia. Her move to America included a year at Bella Vista College Prep in Arizona before transferring to Greenforest. She explained how having Serbian friends at Greenforest made the transition easier: “She was there for some time, and she told me that she liked it over there. They needed players and they were giving me a scholarship and also one more girl from Serbia also came, so it was like three of us that were there.”
Achol decided to leave South Sudan for the U.S. in 2023 after hearing positive feedback from friends already attending Greenforest. Adjusting to indoor courts was among several changes she faced: “Back home, the basketball is not so organized because we get to play in outdoor courts, and so coming to play here in the indoor courts was kind of a different new experience, and I just had to adjust to the whole thing,” Achol said.
Koricanac faced eligibility issues during her senior year at Greenforest but used this time preparing for college by practicing with her high school team before enrolling early at Troy last January. This allowed her extra time acclimating to college-level basketball practices: “I saw good and bad, so I know what to expect and I know how to adjust,” Koricanac said.
Achol arrived on campus this past May and found significant differences between high school and college athletics: “It’s a whole new experience … college life, being a student athlete and everything, but I adjusted,” she said.
Coach Rigby believes both freshmen have potential but acknowledges their different levels of readiness due to their backgrounds. Regarding Koricanac’s early enrollment experience with Troy’s postseason run last year—including reaching runner-up status in the WNIT—Rigby stated: “I think we’re about to maybe reap some benefits from that… She’s been right there on the bench with us in those big games all the way through… There’s a lot of value in that – just not your average freshman.”
For Achol’s development as an athlete still new to organized basketball outside South Sudan’s informal system—and now adjusting physically—Rigby added: “Marianah’s ceiling is so high… She hasn’t been playing basketball that long… Not only just basketball to learn … but her body’s got to develop…”
Achol identifies rebounding as her primary strength due largely to her height advantage: “I like rebounding because it’s easier for me… I’m tall and I can just jump up.” She is working on physical conditioning as well as skill development: “I just need to improve on my dribbling, correcting my shot… I’m always in the weight room every day because that’s part of our schedule…”
Both students acknowledge challenges with homesickness since moving far from family; however they remain focused on academics (with Koricanac stating U.S. schooling is less difficult than back home) while maintaining regular contact with relatives abroad.
Living together has provided support for both athletes as they adapt further into university life away from home: “I was happy when Lana was also offered too,” Achol said.
Now settled into Troy University’s environment academically as well as athletically—supported by teammates—they share aspirations of contributing meaningfully within their new program.
