What happened to Makuach yak? Search for the missing basketball coach intensifies

Delray Beach police are desperately searching for Makuach Yak, a 30-year-old man who has not been seen since Saturday, May 20, 2023. Makuach Yak, a beloved seventh-grade travel basketball coach in Boca Raton, was reportedly last seen on Saturday morning at his home in the 300 block of Southwest 10th Avenue.

Makuach Yak, a native of South Sudan, is a travelling basketball coach who works to build basketball courts in East Africa when he is not in Florida coaching the seventh graders.

Authorities said that Makuach Yak left behind his phone, wallet, and Apple Watch, which was always on his arm, before vanishing from his home. Friends and loved ones, who have joined the search efforts for the missing basketball coach, speculated that Yak might have left for a run in the morning before going to coach the AAU team.

However, Yak, who was expected at a basketball tournament over the weekend, reportedly never made it to the games. Parents of the basketball team, alongside friends, spent the weekend handing out flyers seeking information on the missing person in the neighborhood.

---

Makuach Yak was dropped off at his home by his roommate before his disappearance

According to Delray Beach police, on Saturday a friend/roommate of Makuach Yak dropped him off at their home in Delray Beach around Midnight. Yak’s friend and roommate, identified as VanRoekel, told CBS12 News that when he came back a few hours later, his best friend had vanished from their shared home.

VanRoekel, seemingly troubled by his friend’s disappearance, said that he went back to the home around 8 am on Saturday morning and found Yak’s phone, wallet, and keys still in the same spot beside his Apple watch.

"I went to go pick him up at 8 a.m. and his phone, wallet, and keys were all still in the same spot along with his Apple watch."

He added:

"About every bad possibility in my head is there and has been there.”

Jonathan Eisdorfer, a friend of the missing basketball coach, echoed similar concerns. In a statement to WPTV, Eisdorfer said:

"I’m most worried that something did happen to him. You hear crazy things nowadays. ... A very tough situation to swallow or to even have that thought in someone’s head."

Delray Beach Police have urged the public to reach out to law enforcement with any information that would lead them to the missing person’s whereabouts. In a statement via Twitter, They said:

“Delray Beach police are trying to locate 30-year-old Makuach Yak, who walked away from his home Saturday in the 300-block of SW 10th Avenue. If you see him, please call the DBPD at 561-243-7800.”

Police described Yak as being 6'4" and 165 pounds. They also noted that he was most likely wearing workout clothes at the time of his disappearance.