Nebrasketball Player Profiles: Lat Mayen

The preseason hoops coverage marches on with today’s player profile taking a look at big man Lat Mayen! Returning for another season in Lincoln after his debut as a redshirt junior last season, Mayen has had a long road, both literally and figuratively, before becoming a Husker.

Mayen was originally part of the 2017 recruiting class and committed to the TCU Horned Frogs as the top rated prospect out of Australia. He came to Australia by way of Sudan. Mayen redshirted his first year, and then played in just 17 games his second year as he battled the injury bug. He proceeded to transfer to Chipola College, a junior college in Marianna, Florida in the panhandle not far from the borders with Georgia and Alabama. Mayen played one season with the Indians and is now in Lincoln. He was a three star composite per 247 Sports, was ranked 19th nationally at the JUCO level, and was ranked No. 4 at power forward in his class.

While at TCU Mayen averaged 7.9 minutes in the 17 games he played. He averaged just 2.1 points per game while managing a career 42.3% from inside three point range on 26 total attempts. He also averaged 2.1 rebounds per game with a career best performance of 12 points and six rebounds against West Virginia. After two seasons at TCU he transferred to the JuCo ranks.

Lat Mayen was a first-team all-conference performer at Chipola College his final season where he averaged 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Mayen shot 47% from the field and 38% from three-point range (38-for-99).

That’s all fine and good, but what did he do in his debut season at Nebraska? The 6-foot-9 power forward weighed in at just 205 pounds last season, but came up big by starting in all 27 games. Mayen averaged 34.8 percent from deep, and that came on 138 total attempts. So Mayen was a reliable threat on offense to stretch the defense out to the arc. In fact, he ranked No. 14 in the Big Ten in made three-pointers per game.

However, Mayen only averaged 4.6 boards per game, along with 0.5 blocks, 0.5 steals, and 8.6 points per game. He also averaged just 49.3 percent on shots from two-point range. If Nebraska is going to move up in the conference standings this season, players like Mayen need to step up in those other columns on the stats sheet. Mayen seems to have the talent and drive to do just that, though.