sports and game - The college basketball community is mourning the loss of Omaha forward Deng Mayar, who died tragically in a drowning incident at Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, Utah on Saturday. The 22-year-old ath...
lete, who had recently transferred from North Dakota, showed tremendous promise in his collegiate career.
Mayar, a 6-foot-8 forward raised in Salt Lake City, was swimming with a friend when both began struggling in the water. In a heroic but ultimately tragic turn of events, Mayar's friend managed to reach shore but returned to help him. Despite these efforts, Mayar went underwater and did not resurface. Local rescue crews recovered his body late Saturday night.
The loss has deeply affected both the Omaha and North Dakota basketball programs. During his time at North Dakota, Mayar averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, demonstrating steady improvement throughout the season. His final collegiate game for North Dakota was particularly memorable, as he contributed 12 points and seven rebounds in a 92-79 victory over South Dakota.
Omaha head coach Chris Crutchfield expressed profound sadness at Mayar's passing, noting the positive impact he had already made on the program during summer training. 'After competing against him for two years, we were elated to add him to our team and he made tremendous progress this summer,' Crutchfield stated. 'He was a joy to be around and made our culture better.'
Mayar's journey in basketball reflected the dedication and perseverance common among collegiate athletes. Rising from Salt Lake City's competitive high school basketball scene, he earned his opportunity at North Dakota before deciding to transfer to Omaha for what would have been his final collegiate season.
The incident has sparked discussions about water safety at recreational areas, with local authorities reviewing safety protocols at Blackridge Reservoir. Mayar's friend, who attempted the rescue, was hospitalized but is expected to recover fully.
Mayar, a 6-foot-8 forward raised in Salt Lake City, was swimming with a friend when both began struggling in the water. In a heroic but ultimately tragic turn of events, Mayar's friend managed to reach shore but returned to help him. Despite these efforts, Mayar went underwater and did not resurface. Local rescue crews recovered his body late Saturday night.
The loss has deeply affected both the Omaha and North Dakota basketball programs. During his time at North Dakota, Mayar averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, demonstrating steady improvement throughout the season. His final collegiate game for North Dakota was particularly memorable, as he contributed 12 points and seven rebounds in a 92-79 victory over South Dakota.
Omaha head coach Chris Crutchfield expressed profound sadness at Mayar's passing, noting the positive impact he had already made on the program during summer training. 'After competing against him for two years, we were elated to add him to our team and he made tremendous progress this summer,' Crutchfield stated. 'He was a joy to be around and made our culture better.'
Mayar's journey in basketball reflected the dedication and perseverance common among collegiate athletes. Rising from Salt Lake City's competitive high school basketball scene, he earned his opportunity at North Dakota before deciding to transfer to Omaha for what would have been his final collegiate season.
The incident has sparked discussions about water safety at recreational areas, with local authorities reviewing safety protocols at Blackridge Reservoir. Mayar's friend, who attempted the rescue, was hospitalized but is expected to recover fully.