Omaha player Deng Mayar dies

Omaha Mavericks forward Deng Mayar died Saturday in a drowning incident at Blackridge Reservoir in Utah, at age 22.

Omaha forward Deng Mayar dies in drowning incident

Omaha Mavericks forward Deng Mayar died Saturday in a drowning incident at Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, Utah. He was 22. Mayar and a friend were in the water when they began to struggle; the friend reached the shore and then returned to help Mayar, but Mayar did not reemerge. Rescue crews recovered his body late Saturday night; the friend was hospitalized and is expected to recover. Mayar transferred from North Dakota this offseason to join Omaha, and he stood 6-foot-8. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds for North Dakota last season and finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in a season-ending win over South Dakota before making the move to Omaha.

The loss underscores how quickly life can change for athletes who balance sport with personal growth. It tests the program’s culture of care and its ability to support players through tragedy. Beyond the immediate grief, the incident may prompt a review of safety resources and wellness support offered to players off campus and during offseason travel. Universities often respond with counseling, memorial practices, and strengthened safety protocols, and this event could shape how Omaha and similar programs approach risk management around water activities and outdoor recreation.

Highlights

The community will need time to heal as the season approaches and teammates rally around Mayar’s family.