Omaha men’s basketball player Deng Mayar, a 22-year-old graduate transfer from North Dakota, tragically passed away in a drowning accident in his home state of Utah on Saturday. According to reports, Mayar and a friend were struggling in the water at Blackridge Reservoir near Herriman.
Idman.biz, citing BBC, reports that while his friend was rescued and hospitalized, Mayar went underwater and did not resurface. Rescue crews later recovered his body.
Standing 6-foot-7, Mayar was a Salt Lake City native who played two seasons at North Dakota after junior college, averaging 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds last year. He was set to continue his career at Omaha this season.
Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield expressed devastation, noting Mayar had quickly embraced the team’s culture and made significant progress this summer. Former coach Paul Sather described him as a fierce competitor on the court but a gentle, kind soul off it. Both programs mourned the loss of a player remembered as much for his character as his talent.
Idman.biz
