Family matters for Mayen's Adelaide move

New Adelaide 36ers signing Lat Mayen can’t wait to play at home in front of his mum and family when the NBL25 season starts later this year.

Mayen said his mum was the first person he called after signing a one-year deal to join the 36ers earlier this month.

“It was a really exciting time, the first person I called was my mum, she has never really had a chance to see me play, only recently when I was there for the Taipans,” Mayen said this week.

“That was a special moment for me.”

The 206cm forward, who is currently playing for the Wellington Saints in the NZNBL, said his decision to come home was the “cherry on top” after moving into free agency after two years at Cairns Taipans.

“My agent gave me a couple of options, and Adelaide was the best option,” Mayen said.

“It feels good to be back in Adelaide, I haven’t been back in a while.

“I’m going to need a few tickets for every home game, the family can’t wait to come see me play at home every second weekend.”

The Sturt Sabres junior made his way to the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in 2016 with the likes of Sam Froling, Jack White and Will Magnay and was the second-ranked Australian collegiate player in 2017 as he spent two years in Canberra before embarking on an NCAA career in the US.

After a successful college career with Texas Christian University, Chipola College and the University of Nebraska, Mayen arrived back on Australia in 2022, playing two seasons in Far North Queensland, forcing his way into the starting line-up and averaging 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds across 43 games.

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Mayen will bring toughness and physicality to the 36ers roster, as well as his sweet shooting stroke and the ability to spread the floor at the offensive end.

“Ever since I can remember I’ve been ultra-competitive,” Mayen said.

“I’ve got seven brothers and one sister and I’m the youngest. I’ve grown up watching them compete.

“I’ve wanted to follow in my older brothers’ and cousins’ footsteps.”

Mayen is the second South Australian signed for the NBL25 season alongside Nick Marshall and he said to have that local flavour in the roster would give the side an extra edge.

“We pride ourselves on where we come from and to have the SA boys come back together, it’s going to be awesome,” Mayen said.

“Nick has shown he can play in the NBL and we need to get as many SA guys back to Adelaide as we can.”

In NBL24, Mayen was known league-wide after hitting a clutch three-pointer on the buzzer to beat the Hawks in Illawarra.

“Every basketball player would be lying if they said they didn’t ever dream of that moment, so to do that was pretty cool, a great moment in my career,” Mayen said.

Mayen said he is excited to get to Adelaide and to be part of the rotation for head coach Scott Ninnis, and he sees himself making a significant impact in NBL25 and beyond.

“I fit in the roster very well, the way the 36ers were tracking at the back end of the year there, they were rolling, so I just want to come in and put my best foot forward the best way I can,” Mayen said.

“I think I can do a bit of everything for the club, on the court, off the court.

“I’m a big fan of Isaac (Humphries), he has always been a great player, even back when I was watching him play at Kentucky, I just want to come in and make his job just that little bit easier.”