At 22, Deng Mayar was living the dream. After two successful seasons at North Dakota, he moved to the Summit League champions, the Omaha Mavericks. A bright future lay ahead of him at a new college and in a new team. Unfortunately, the youngster has abruptly passed away in a drowning incident. Mayar was swimming with his friend at the Blackridge Reservoir on Saturday, August 16, when he went under the water and didn’t resurface.

His friend managed to find the shore, but Mayar didn’t have the same fate. Local rescue teams spent hours scouring the water for Mayar after he disappeared beneath the surface just 35 feet from shore. It wasn’t until late Saturday night that a submersible robot finally found him, allowing crews to recover his body, after which he was pronounced dead.

“We are devastated to learn of Deng’s passing. On behalf of our university community, our love and sincere condolences are with his family during this difficult time. We also wish his friends and teammates in Omaha, North Dakota, and Salt Lake City family, peace as they process this tragic loss.” Omaha Chancellor Adrian Dowell said in a statement.

In his two seasons at North Dakota, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds while starting 15 games out of the possible 42, earning a step up to a better team. Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield further detailed his impact on their team even if her had not played a game. Crutchfield said in a statement that Mayar had made “tremendous progress” during the summer.“Deng was a joy to be around and made our culture better,” Crutchfield said. “We will miss him greatly.” The basketball community is also pretty shook as one of their own will no longer take the court.

College Basketball Community Mourns Loss of Deng Mayar

Deng Mayar was coming into a Nebraska squad that had made history last year. The Mavericks are slated to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since making the jump to Division I in 2011. Omaha beat out the University of St. Thomas to earn that bid. Deng was a key part of their step up into the big leagues. However, fate had other ideas. Now, an outpouring of prayers and support floods the community for Deng.

One fan sent his prayers like hundreds of others, writing, “So sad, RIP 🙏.” It was a heartbreaking incident with a basketball player who was just stepping into the basketball scene. He was steadily growing into his life and doing his best to stand out, and out of the blue. “He was a wonderful person with a heart the size of a gym.”

His North Dakota coach, Paul Sather, said in a statement, “As competitive as he was on the court, he had a gentle nature and kind soul off the court.” Another fan wrote, sending prayers, writing, “22. Just gut-wrenching. Rest easy.” Deng saw the same dreams that each youngster saw. He wanted to once make it to the NBA, and even if fans have never met Deng before or even know about him, they share that common thread, which forms an emotional bond regardless.

Another fan pointed to this incident being a wake-up call, writing, “Why does it always take a tragedy like this to remind us how fragile athletes’ lives really are off the court? We celebrate their stats but forget they’re just young men trying to live.” Basketball players, or any sports players for that matter, are often seen with their numbers and statistics. How many points did he score? Will he make the NBA? But fans and the players themselves often forget they are humans after all.

Athletes face relentless pressure to perform, but tragedies like this are a stark reminder that it’s time to shift our mindset, choosing compassion over expectation. It’s not just about the scoreboard. It’s about supporting the person behind the jersey. “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of this young man. May GOD bless your family with strength and guidance through this tragic moment 🙏🏾.” Another fan wrote.

It’s never about just the person. There was an entire family that loved and cherished him, who suddenly lost their child. They have seen him from day 1, and his journey has sadly seen an abrupt end. United in grief, the community has rallied around Deng’s family and loved ones, offering strength and unwavering support in the face of heartbreaking loss.