OMAHA – UNO men’s basketball forward Deng Mayer, who joined the team this summer, died Saturday, the team announced Sunday evening.
According to multiple media reports in Salt Lake City, Mayar drowned in Blackridge Reservoir near Herriman, Utah. He was 22 years old.
News reports identified Mayar as Deng Ador, which is his father’s last name. UNO confirmed the news Sunday. Mayar had transferred to Omaha from North Dakota.
“Our entire program is devastated to learn of Deng’s passing,” Omaha men’s basketball coach Chris Crutchfield said in a statement. “After competing against him for two years, we were elated to add him to our team and he made tremendous progress this summer. Deng was a joy to be around and made our culture better. We will miss him greatly. Jodi and I, along iwth our entire team, send our hearts and prayers to Deng’s family, friends and teammates.”
Maverick Athletic Director Adrian Dowell said the department was “devastated” to learn of Mayar’s death.
“On behalf of our university community, our love and sincere condolences are with his family during this difficult time, “Dowell said. “We also wish his friends and teammates in Omaha, North Dakota, and Salt Lake City family, peace as they process this tragic loss.”
Mayar was a graduate student at UNO after averaging 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds for North Dakota as a senior.
Mayar was in Omaha this summer participating in workouts with his new teammates. After one workout last month, senior guard Tony Osburn called Mayar “a great offensive rebounder.”
According to ABC4 in Salt Lake City, Mayar was one of two men struggling in the water at the reservoir. Sa Mafutaga, identified as the other man in the water, made it to shore, according to Herriman police, before returning to the water to unsuccessfully attempt to rescue Mayar.
Mayar was eventually found by Herriman police’s submersible robot late Saturday night.