Yante Maten
Yante Khaaliq Daiyann Maten 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 Southeastern Conference Men's [Basketball Player of the Year|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.After a breakout sophomore year where he was named second-team All-Southeastern Conference by the league's coaches, Maten enjoyed a strong individual junior season, marred by a knee injury and the Bulldogs’ mediocre 19–14 record. 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.
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. Ultimately, after working out for NBA teams he decided to return to Georgia for his senior year to improve his draft position.
Prior to the start of the 2017–18 [NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18 season], Maten was named the preseason SEC co-Player of the Year. After a strong start to the season, 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. Maten won SEC Player of the Year by the Associated Press and was named to the All-SEC First Team.