University of Nebraska at Omaha forward Deng Mayar died Saturday evening in a drowning incident at Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, Utah. He was 22 years old.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, when Mayar and his friend, 21-year-old Sa Mafutaga, were swimming at the reservoir located approximately 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. Both men began struggling in the water, according to multiple reports.

Mafutaga initially reached the shore but noticed Mayar was still in distress in the water. He attempted to return to help his friend but was unable to reach him. Bystanders and emergency personnel from the Unified Fire Authority pulled Mafutaga to safety. Mayar continued to struggle before going underwater and did not resurface.

Emergency crews from multiple agencies, including the Unified Fire Authority, South Jordan Fire Department Water Rescue Teams, and the Utah Highway Patrol Dive Team, launched an extensive search and rescue operation. Officials used a submersible robot to locate Mayar’s body around 10:40 p.m., with divers recovering him shortly after 11 p.m.

Mafutaga was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The Blackridge Reservoir was temporarily closed following the incident as officials investigated the circumstances.

Mayar had recently transferred to Omaha from the University of North Dakota, where he played for two seasons. The 6-foot-8 forward appeared in 42 games for the Fighting Hawks and averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season. In his final game at North Dakota, he recorded 12 points and seven rebounds in a 92-79 victory over South Dakota.

Omaha men’s basketball coach Chris Crutchfield expressed the program’s grief in a statement released Sunday. Crutchfield said, “Our entire program is devastated to learn of Deng’s passing.” He indicated that after competing against Mayar for two years, the coaching staff was excited to add him to their team and noted he had made tremendous progress during the summer.

The coach described Mayar as a joy to be around who made the team culture better. Crutchfield and his wife Jodi, along with the entire program, extended their hearts and prayers to Mayar’s family, friends and teammates.

North Dakota head coach Paul Sather also released a statement expressing his heartbreak over the news. He characterized Mayar as a wonderful person with a heart the size of a gym. Sather emphasized that while Mayar was competitive on the court, he possessed a gentle nature and kind soul off the court. The coach extended thoughts to Mayar’s parents, family, and teammates from both UND and UNO.

University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li and Athletic Director Adrian Dowell issued a joint statement expressing devastation over the loss. They conveyed the university community’s love and sincere condolences to Mayar’s family during this difficult time and wished peace to his friends and teammates in Omaha, North Dakota, and Salt Lake City as they process the loss.

Mayar was originally from the Salt Lake City area and had returned home for the summer. Local reports indicated he was born in Magna and previously played basketball at Judge Memorial High School before attending Howard Junior College and then transferring to North Dakota.

The basketball community has rallied around Mayar’s memory, with a GoFundMe page established for his family raising over $9,300 within nine hours of its creation. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks posted on social media expressing their heartbreak over the loss of their former student-athlete and extending deepest condolences to all who knew him.

Mayar was preparing to begin his graduate season with the Omaha Mavericks after making the transfer during the offseason. He had started 15 games during his two seasons at North Dakota and was looking forward to the next chapter of his basketball career in his home state region.

The incident marks a significant loss for both the Omaha and North Dakota basketball programs, as well as the broader college basketball community. Mayar’s death has prompted an outpouring of support from coaches, teammates, and university officials who remembered him as both a talented player and an exceptional person.