Deng Mayar Obituary, Death; Nebraska basketball player drowns in Utah reservoir.

Deng Mayar Obituary, Death – The University of Nebraska Omaha community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of one of its basketball players after he drowned at a Utah reservoir over the weekend. Authorities confirmed the victim as 22-year-old Deng Mayar, a student-athlete who had recently transferred to the program and was studying business administration.

The incident unfolded Saturday evening at Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, a city just outside of Salt Lake City. According to the Herriman City Police Department, multiple 911 calls came in reporting two individuals in distress in the water. Responders later identified the swimmers as Mayar and another man, Sa Mafutaga. Witnesses said Mafutaga was initially able to reach the shore safely but noticed Mayar struggling and returned to the water in an attempt to help. Unfortunately, his efforts were unsuccessful, and Mayar disappeared beneath the surface.

Police conducted a prolonged search of the reservoir, deploying a submersible device to scan the waters for hours. Eventually, divers were able to locate and recover Mayar’s body. Meanwhile, Mafutaga was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to recover fully.

The news of Mayar’s passing sent shockwaves through the Omaha athletics department and the wider basketball community. In a statement released Sunday, the University of Nebraska Omaha described the incident as a “tragic loss” and extended condolences to Mayar’s family, teammates, and friends. Head basketball coach Chris Crutchfield reflected on Mayar’s impact during his short time with the team, noting his positive attitude and strong character.

“Deng was a joy to be around and made our culture better,” Crutchfield said. “We will miss him greatly.”

Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, Mayar played forward and had already built a respectable record on the court. His Omaha Athletics profile highlights his academic pursuit of business administration and his roots in Salt Lake City, where he grew up with six siblings. A standout athlete since high school, Mayar competed for Judge Memorial Catholic High School, where he helped his team finish fourth at the state tournament during his senior year.

Before transferring to Omaha, Mayar played at the University of North Dakota following two seasons at a junior college. At North Dakota, he appeared in 42 games, starting in 15, and accumulated 59 points during his junior year. He was also noted for his defensive contributions, ranking fourth in steals on the squad during his most recent season.

The University of North Dakota also issued a statement, offering its “deepest condolences” to Mayar’s family and friends. Head coach Paul Sather remembered him as not just a skilled athlete but also an extraordinary person.

“As competitive as he was on the court, he had a gentle nature and kind soul off the court,” Sather said. “Deng will be greatly missed by all of those that knew and loved him.”

Mayar’s passing leaves a deep void in the communities he touched—from his teammates and coaches to his family and classmates. Both the University of Nebraska Omaha and the University of North Dakota emphasized that his legacy will live on through the lives he inspired.