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Auburn forward Jabari Smith (right) defends against Nebraska forward Lat Mayen during the first half on Dec. 11 in Atlanta.
What was suspected for weeks became official last weekend.
Nebraska forward Lat Mayen, who spent two years in Lincoln and started 58 of the 59 games he played for the Huskers, will not return to NU for his COVID-19 season, instead opting for a professional basketball career.
Mayen played his first pro game Sunday in his home country of Australia, scoring 20 points in 25 minutes for the Cairns Marlins of the NBL1 league.
The NBL1 is a second division, of sorts, for Australia’s top pro league, the NBL. Former Husker Jack McVeigh played multiple seasons in the NBL1 while also playing in the NBL for the Adelaide 36ers and the Tasmania JackJumpers.
The Cairns Marlins are associated with the NBL’s Cairns Taipans.
“Everyone in our program appreciates the contributions (Lat) has made to the Husker basketball program over the last two seasons and the work he put into the gym every day,” NU coach Fred Hoiberg said in a news release. “Lat has been a pleasure to coach and (I) look forward to him embarking on a pro career.”
The writing on the wall regarding Mayen’s return became clearer when Nebraska received a commitment from Alabama forward Juwan Gary on April 21.
The addition of Gary put Nebraska at 14 scholarship players, one over the NCAA limit of 13 — with SMU guard Emmanuel Bandoumel moving that number to 15 — with Mayen and guard Trey McGowens yet to make their decisions on whether or not to return to NU.
Mayen’s decision drops that number back to 14, with McGowens still to announce a decision.
Mayen famously made 86 of 100 three-pointers in a summer drill shortly after arriving on campus in 2020, raising hopes that he could be the type of sharpshooting big man Hoiberg has traditionally liked to have in his offense.
But in two years with the Huskers, Mayen connected on 77 three-pointers while shooting just 33% from beyond the arc.
He battled a back injury early in the 2021-22 season, and was just 11-for-51 (21.5%) from three-point range over the first half of the year before shooting 39% from long range in the second half of the season.
The Adelaide, Australia, native showed brief flashes of what Nebraska was hoping to get when it signed him, averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over the final four games of the 2020-21 season.
Early that year, Mayen was forced to play out of position at center as Nebraska was without Derrick Walker and Eduardo Andre for the first six games of the year.
Mayen led NU with 48 three-pointers that season, including a career-high five in a 25-point performance against Rutgers late in the season.
But the 6-foot-9 forward scored in double figures just three more times over his final 35 games, including two double-digit performances last season.
In 2021-22, Mayen saw his scoring and rebounding averages dip to 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds. He had a season high of 13 points against Penn State late in the year, and finished the season shooting 39% from the field and 30% from three-point range.
Mayen spent one season at the junior college level, playing at Chipola College in Florida, before coming to Nebraska.
Prior to Chipola, the former second-ranked player in Australia in the 2017 recruiting class spent two seasons at TCU, redshirting as a freshman in 2017-18, and playing in 17 games the following season before a knee injury ended his year.
The specs: 6-foot-6, 220 pounds.
Before Nebraska: A former Lincoln East standout, Sam Griesel spent the past four seasons at North Dakota State, where he became one of the top players in the Summit League.
How he landed with the Huskers: Transfer portal, announced decision March 20.
Griesel’s game: Griesel was NDSU’s second-leading scorer (14.3 points) and rebounder (6.6), and led the team in assists while finishing second on the team in steals this past season.
The quote: “It’s a dream come true. It’s, quite honestly, a position that I never thought I would be in even two weeks ago,” Griesel told the Journal Star’s Chris Basnett on March 20.
The specs: 6-foot-6, 218 pounds.
Before Nebraska: A former four-star prospect in high school, Gary chose Alabama, where he spent two seasons after redshirting in 2019-20. Last season, Gary started 16 games for the Crimson Tide.
How he landed with the Huskers: Gary visited Lincoln in mid-April and committed to the program via social media later that week.
Gary’s game: At 6-6, Gary plays even bigger and offers a legitimate shot-blocking threat. He was fourth in total blocked shots on Alabama’s roster last season.
The specs: 6-foot-11, 230 pounds.
Before Nebraska: Keita, from Wichita, Kansas, played two seasons at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College.
How he landed with the Huskers: Keita committed to Nebraska in Feb. 2021 and signed months later in November.
Keita’s game: Keita was a national junior college player of the year candidate this past season after leading Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College to a national title in 2021. He averaged 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 2021-22.
The quote: “Blaise has dynamic physical tools, great size, athleticism, length and power to become a high-level big man in the Big Ten,” Fred Hoiberg said in a Nov. 10, 2021, news release. “His ability to score around the rim as well as being able to extend out and be a threat beyond the arc will make him a weapon within our offense.”
The specs: 6-foot-5, 180 pounds.
Before Nebraska: Dawson, who joins the Huskers out of high school, boosted his recruiting stock on the AAU circuit with the California Stars program.
How he landed with the Huskers: Dawson picked NU over Georgia Tech and Iona. He announced his decision in Oct. 2021.
Dawson’s game: His athleticism within a 6-5 frame is certainly intriguing, and Fred Hoiberg said as much in November. “He plays aggressively and brings a multi-level scoring presence to our system,” the coach said.
The quote: “I feel like I made the right decision,” Dawson told the Journal Star in Oct. 2021. “I feel like the playstyle is how I want to play: fast and with pace. That’s how I played in AAU and that’s how I played my best and got all my offers. So I feel like this is the right path
The specs: 6-foot-6, 190 pounds.
Before Nebraska: After starring at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., Lloyd transferred to national power Sierra Canyon last season and averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists per contest playing on the same team as 2022 five-star prospect Amari Bailey and 2023 four-star prospect Lebron James Jr.
How he landed with the Huskers: Lloyd, who is considered a four-star prospect, is the third-highest ranked recruit to commit to NU. He had over 30 offers before deciding on the Huskers.
Lloyd’s game: At 6-6, Lloyd has a tall frame for a point guard, which can be especially useful in the Big Ten. Fred Hoiberg says Lloyd has an “elite skill set” and praised his ability to “create plays for himself and for others.”
The quote: “Just being a part of something new, I feel like part of a new wave that’s just beginning, and it’s going to grow even more. So it’s just a blessing to be a part of this,” Lloyd told the Journal Star’s Chris Basnett in July 2021.
The specs: 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
Before Nebraska: Lawrence didn’t have any Division I offers before his senior year of high school at Roselle Catholic in New Jersey. But it was a head-turning run on the AAU that did the trick.
How he landed with the Huskers: Lawrence went from zero offers to 17 and ultimately picked the Huskers over Wake Forest during a ceremony broadcast on Instagram Live in Oct. 2021.
Lloyd’s game: Noticing a trend here? At 6-4, Lawrence is another lengthy guard. Clearly, Fred Hoiberg made that a priority when recruiting. Lloyd also has the reputation of being a strong shooter, which is music to his future head coach’s ears.
The quote: “I don’t want to tear up right now,” Lawrence told NJHoopRecruit during his October announcement. “Probably later. But the feeling, it’s just insane. I’m really excited.”
The specs: 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
How he landed with the Huskers: After spending three seasons at SMU, Bandoumel hit the transfer portal and ultimately chose Nebraska.
Bandoumel’s game: Nearly two-thirds of Bandoumel’s shot attempts in the 2021-22 season came from beyond the arc, and he provided SMU with a willing defender on the other end of the floor.
The quote: “Defensively, he has the size and athleticism to guard several spots which matches up well with our other backcourt players,” Fred Hoiberg said in a May 17 news release.
Contact the writer at cbasnett@journalstar.com or 402-473-7436. On Twitter @HuskerExtraCB.
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Assistant sports editor/high schools
A Ravenna native, Chris Basnett joined the Journal Star in 2016 and has more than 20 years of experience covering prep, college, and professional sports.
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Auburn forward Jabari Smith (right) defends against Nebraska forward Lat Mayen during the first half on Dec. 11 in Atlanta.
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