Yante Maten

Yante Maten
Maten playing for Georgia in 2015
No. 1 – San-en NeoPhoenix
PositionPower forward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1996-08-14) August 14, 1996 (age 28)
Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeGeorgia (2014–2018)
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Miami Heat
2018–2019→Sioux Falls Skyforce
2019–2020Maine Red Claws
2020–2021Wonju DB Promy
2021–2022Hapoel Tel Aviv
2022–presentSan-en NeoPhoenix
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Yante Khaaliq Daiyann Maten (born August 14, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for San-en NeoPhoenix of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the University of Georgia. A 6’7” power forward from Pontiac, Michigan, Maten won SEC Player of the Year by the Associated Press as a senior.

College career

After starring at Lahser High School for three years until its closure in 2013, and then in the 2013–14 season at its successor, Bloomfield Hills High School, Maten surprised recruiting experts by selecting Georgia over Indiana and home state school Michigan State.[1]

After a breakout sophomore year where he was named second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) by the league's coaches, Maten enjoyed a strong individual junior season, marred by a knee injury and the Bulldogs’ mediocre 19–14 record.[2] After averaging 18.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, he was named first-team All-SEC by the leagues’ coaches and second-team by the Associated Press. He was also named as a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for the nation's top center (despite starting the season on the watch list for the Karl Malone Award for top power forward).[3]

Following his junior season, Maten declared his eligibility for the 2017 NBA draft without an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to Georgia for his senior year.[4] Ultimately, after working out for NBA teams he decided to return to Georgia for his senior year to improve his draft position.[5]

Prior to the start of the 2017–18 season, Maten was named the preseason SEC co-Player of the Year (with Texas A&M forward Robert Williams and incoming Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr.).[6] After a strong start to the season,[7] Maten was named to the John R. Wooden Award midseason top 25 watch list on January 10, one of only two SEC players to be so recognized.[8] Maten won SEC Player of the Year by the Associated Press and was named to the All-SEC First Team.

Professional career

Miami Heat (2018–2019)

After not being selected in the 2018 NBA draft, Maten signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on July 29, 2018. Under the terms of the deal, he split his time between the Heat and their NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.[9] On December 2, 2018, Maten scored a career-high 42 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 3 blocks in a 113–108 win over the Stockton Kings.[10] Maten was named NBA G League Player of the Month for December 2018.[11] On April 7, 2019, the Heat signed Maten to a standard NBA contract.[12] On July 29, 2019, Maten was waived by the Miami Heat.[13]

Maine Red Claws (2019–2020)

On September 17, 2019, Maten was reported to have signed with the Boston Celtics.[14] On October 20, 2019, Maten was reported to have waived by the Celtics.[15] On October 26, 2019, Maten was included in the training camp roster of the Maine Red Claws.[16]

Wonju DB Promy (2020–2021)

Maten joined Wonju DB Promy of the Korean Basketball League for the 2020–21 season.[17]

Hapoel Tel Aviv (2022)

On April 23, 2022, he has signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League.[18]

Career statistics

Professional

Legend
  GP Games played  MPG  Minutes per game  FG%  Field goal percentage
 3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game
 PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high     Led the league
Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Sioux Falls Skyforce NBA G League 30 32.7 .539 .327 .777 9.6 1.8 .8 1.1 23.5
2018–19 Miami Heat NBA 2 6.5 .250 .000 .000 1.5 .0 .5 .0 1.0
2019–20 Maine Red Claws NBA G League 39 28.8 .545 .247 .712 8.8 1.8 1.0 .8 18.1
Career All Leagues 71 29.8 .541 .291 .754 9.0 1.8 .9 .9 19.9

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15 Georgia 32 2 18.2 .416 .000 .648 4.3 .3 .3 1.4 5.0
2015–16 Georgia 34 34 30.0 .496 .533 .783 8.0 .8 .3 1.8 16.5
2016–17 Georgia 29 28 29.0 .519 .488 .716 6.8 1.5 .7 1.5 18.2
2017–18 Georgia 33 33 34.3 .464 .341 .801 8.6 1.5 .5 1.5 19.3
Career 128 97 27.9 .483 .403 .755 6.9 1.0 .4 1.6 14.7

References

  1. ^ Carvell, Michael (April 14, 2014). "The story behind UGA's big recruiting victory". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  2. ^ Paschall, David (February 27, 2017). "Georgia's Yante Maten out indefinitely with knee sprain". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "Georgia junior Yante Maten a finalist for Abdul-Jabbar award". Athens Banner-Herald. February 3, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "Georgia junior forward Yante Maten submits for draft without agent". ESPN.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Carvell, Michael (April 14, 2014). "The story behind UGA's big recruiting victory". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  6. ^ Butt, Jason (October 18, 2017). "Maten shares preseason honor at SEC Men's Basketball Media Day". The Telegraph. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "UGA roundup: Yante Maten named SEC Player of the Week". Athens Banner-Herald. December 26, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  8. ^ Knapp, Corey (January 11, 2018). "Georgia's Yante Maten makes Wooden Award midseason top 25". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Heat Signs Yante Maten". NBA.com. July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sioux Falls Skyforce 113 - Stockton Kings 108". G League Stats. December 2, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  11. ^ "Yante Maten Named G League Player Of The Month". January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  12. ^ "HEAT Signs Yante Maten". NBA.com. April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  13. ^ "Heat Waives Yante Maten". NBA.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  14. ^ Albertie, Quenton (September 17, 2019). "Report: Celtics sign forward Yante Maten to Exhibit 10 deal". usatoday.com. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "The Celtics waive Maten". usbasket.com. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  16. ^ Boston, Evans (October 26, 2019). "2019 NBA G League Draft RED CLAWS DRAFT FOUR, ANNOUNCE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  17. ^ "Former Bulldogs Begin Professional Seasons Worldwide". Georgia Bulldogs. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "Yante Maten joins Hapoel Tel Aviv". Sportando. April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.