The film from Hollywood Pictures would feature a tall African basketball player as a prospect under the wing of an American coach, which would be played by Kevin Bacon.
In the end, he was chosen for the lead role of Saleh, a member of the fictional Winabi tribe in Kenya (which were loosely based on the Samburu people) which is sought out by Bacon's character to play in the US.
Former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo, who served as the film's technical advisor, saw potential for Maina to play college basketball in the US, saying "just seeing his enthusiasm and his size, I knew there was something there".
[5] The year after the film was released, Maina guest starred in the episode "Lostland" of the television series SeaQuest DSV, as Professor Obatu and his ancestor Deucalion.
After one year, he transferred to Miami-Dade Kendall Community College to be closer to McAdoo, where he also played as a starter and set several school records for blocked shots.
[1] Eventually, McAdoo contacted Jeff Price, head coach of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.
[7] During the 1997–98 season, his team reached the NCAA D-II semifinals, with Price praising "his timing and ability to block shots".