Yante Maten is coming into the National Basketball Association (NBA) with lots of steam and hunger despite not being drafted in the 2018 NBA draft. In a bid to secure a team in the league, Yante had to work out intensely very many times, following this, almost every team in the NBA that had a look at him responded well and seemed to like what they saw. Nevertheless, it was the Miami Heat that announced they had signed the Power forward.
The young baller is certainly one with a lot to offer on the basketball court and while we look eagerly to see him do that, let’s take an in-depth look at where the lad is coming from and in addition learning some interesting facts about him.
Who is Yante Maten (NBA Star)?
His full name is Yante Khaaliq Daiyann Maten and he was born on the 14th of August 1996 in Pontiac, Michigan into a Black-American family. Yante schooled at Lahser High School and later Bloomfield Hills High School both located in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan before proceeding to the University of Georgia where he studied and played basketball from 2014 to 2018.
Yante Maten was impressed with his balling skills in college and had high hopes of getting into the NBA. He, however, went undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft but was lucky to see the Miami Heat look his way after the draft. The young player with lots of optimism then signed a two-way contract with the Florida-based team which would see him split his playing time between the NBA club side and their NBA G-League affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Here are Facts You Need to Know
Family Life
Yante Maten was born to Bryant Maten (dad) and Toiya Paige (mom). He and his younger sister Nia Iwuoha were raised in a Christian home centered on faith, mutual trust, and friendship among the family members and close neighbors. We learned that his mother got remarried to another man with whom she had Nia when Yante was already grown. As a kid, Toiya disclosed that he would often look after his younger sister like an adult would, he would take her by the hand to school and back home, he simply cared very much for her acting so maturely like the big brother he is.
Yante had his mom Toiya as his basketball playmate, she fixed a Little Tykes basketball hoop in their backyard with which they often practiced within their spare time. Toiya in her own time had played basketball in high and was quite good at it. Being a baller herself and as she practiced with her boy, she knew just how good he was and encouraged him the more, both emotionally, physically, and in every other way possible to pursue the sports professionally.
College Stats
While in Georgia, Yante Maten played 128 games starting 97. He recorded a total of 27.9 minutes per game, .483 field goals, 3-point field goals of .403 with a .755 free-throw percentage. He had 6.9 rebounds with an average point per game of 1.0, .4 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 14.7 points per game. With these stats, the young baller has certainly not performed bad, with the right guidance, training, and mentorship he will come off well in the NBA and probably be among the top players in the league in years to come
Career Laurels
So far, the Pontiac, Michigan-born Power forward’s basketball skills have not been without some recognition. Yante was notably named to the Second-team All-SEC in 2016, he is a 2-time First-team All-SEC in 2017 and 2018 just as he was also named the SEC Player of the Year – AP in 2018. Though his college career does not boast of a plethora of awards, he can make up for that or perhaps achieve more in the NBA being that he is still young and has many years ahead of him.
Body Statistics
Height is of vital importance for anyone who wants to make a career out of basketball. The height a player stands at is also of prime importance to how well or otherwise such a player will perform in any given position he/she plays on the B-ball court. With Yante Maten standing at 6 feet 8 inches, his height is apt for the position of Power forward in the NBA, and with a bodyweight of 240 lb or 109 kg, the young baller is certainly not a pushover.
