The Tragic Drowning of Deng Mayar
A young life full of promise has been cut short in the most heartbreaking way. College basketball star Deng Mayar, 22, died in a drowning incident at Utah’s Blackridge Reservoir, leaving his family, teammates, and fans in shock.
Mayar, who had just transferred to the University of Nebraska Omaha, was swimming in Herriman, Utah, around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, when tragedy struck. According to police, Mayar began struggling in the water. His close friend, 21-year-old Sa Mafutaga, who was swimming with him, managed to make it back to shore. In a brave attempt, Mafutaga went back to try and save Mayar but was unsuccessful.
Nearby witnesses pulled Mafutaga from the water and rushed him to a hospital, where he is expected to recover. Sadly, Mayar’s body was later located about 35 yards from shore by a submersible robot at approximately 10:40 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
This tragic news comes just months after another shocking sports loss that shook fans everywhere. (Related: Outlawz Member Young Noble Passes Away At 47 After Suicide)
University of Nebraska Omaha Reacts to Deng Mayar’s Death
The University of Nebraska Omaha men’s basketball program has been left devastated. Head coach Chris Crutchfield released an emotional statement following Mayar’s passing:
“Our entire program is devastated to learn of Deng’s passing,” Crutchfield said. “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 with our entire program, send our hearts and prayers to Deng’s family, friends and teammates.”
Mayar was known as a hard worker with unmatched energy and a positive spirit that lit up every room. For his coaches and teammates, this isn’t just a loss of a player, but of family.
Remembering Deng Mayar’s Basketball Journey
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Mayar’s story was one of perseverance and dedication. He played last season at North Dakota, where he averaged 6.3 points and four rebounds per game. His performance and character on and off the court made him a standout among his peers.
This summer, Mayar transferred to Omaha as a graduate student. Coaches believed he was ready to level up and make a big impact for the Mavericks. He had already been making “tremendous progress” during summer training, according to Crutchfield.
North Dakota head coach Paul Sather also shared heartfelt words:
“Our hearts are broken to hear the tragic news of Deng’s passing,” Sather said. “He was a wonderful person with a heart the size of a gym. Our thoughts are with his parents and family, along with all his teammates from UND and UNO. As competitive as he was on the court, he had a gentle nature and kind soul off the court. Deng will be greatly missed by all of those that knew and loved him.”
Deng Mayar will be greatly missed.