Matthew Mayer

Matthew Mayer

Free agent
Position	Shooting guard / small forward
Personal information
Born	(1999-09-23) September 23, 1999 (age 25) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school	Westlake (Austin, Texas)
College	Baylor (2018–2022) Illinois (2022–2023)
NBA draft	2023: undrafted
Playing career	2023–present
Career history
2023–2024	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2024	Texas Legends
Career highlights and awards
NCAA champion (2021) Third-team All-Big Ten (2023)

Matthew Mayer (born September 23, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

High school career

Mayer attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, where he played alongside future NCAA Division I players Brock Cunningham, Keonte Kennedy and Will Baker.[1] He committed to playing college basketball for Baylor over offers from Texas and Texas A&M, among others. Mayer was a consensus four-star recruit, according to major recruiting services.[2][3]

College career

Mayer had a limited role during his first two years at Baylor. In his junior season, he improved his efficiency and was a key contributor off the bench for the national champion Bears.[4] Mayer grew a mullet upon the advice of his teammate Jackson Moffatt, who had the same hairstyle.[5] Mayer averaged 8.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but ultimately returned for his senior season.[6] In his senior season, Mayer started all 33 games and averaged 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He again declared for the NBA draft after the season, but later withdrew and announced he was transferring to Illinois. In his lone season at Illinois, Mayer was named to the Third Team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media.[7]

Professional career

Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2023–2024)

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Mayer joined the Houston Rockets for the 2023 NBA Summer League.[8] He signed a contract with the Rockets on August 2, 2023,[9] but was waived on October 17.[10] On October 30, Mayer joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.[11]

Texas Legends (2024)

On March 1, 2024, Mayer was traded to the Texas Legends in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick.[12]

On July 11, 2024, Mayer signed with the Toyotsu Fighting Eagles Nagoya of the B.League.[13] On September 13, 2024, his contract was terminated.[14]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	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

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018–19	Baylor	33	0	11.8	.331	.308	.660	2.0	.8	.5	.2	4.6
2019–20	Baylor	30	0	11.6	.422	.378	.690	1.9	.8	.5	.1	4.8
2020–21	Baylor	30	0	15.7	.489	.395	.592	3.7	1.0	1.2	.3	8.1
2021–22	Baylor	33	33	22.8	.409	.324	.700	5.0	1.0	1.2	.8	9.8
2022–23	Illinois	33	33	26.5	.407	.330	.741	5.3	1.1	0.8	1.2	12.5
Career		159	66	17.8	.413	.339	.689	3.6	.9	.8	.5	8.0

References

1. Cook, Lyndon (October 5, 2016). "Matthew Mayer, 2018's top player talks recruitment after Fall Classic". Rivals. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
2. Jones, Thomas (June 14, 2017). "Westlake basketball player Matthew Mayer commits to Baylor". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
3. Goodman, Jeff (February 23, 2021). "Matthew Mayer's Path to Waco / How Baylor Was Built". Stadium. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
4. Chamblee, Will (February 24, 2021). "Is it Matthew Mayer time yet? Growth, maturity propel the junior during Baylor's stellar season". The Baylor Lariat. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
5. Recek, Travis (April 2, 2021). "Matthew Mayer Makes His Mark at Baylor, Final Four". Spectrum News Austin. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
6. Cantu, Rick (April 14, 2021). "Baylor's Matthew Mayer declares for NBA draft, maintains college eligibility". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
7. Brown, Darby (May 27, 2022). "Baylor's Matthew Mayer transfers to Illinois". KWTX.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
8. Kalbrosky, Bryan (June 23, 2023). "Tracking where the top undrafted free agents who did not hear their names called in the 2023 NBA Draft have signed". USAToday.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
9. "Rockets Sign Five Players". NBA.com. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
10. "Rockets Complete Trade With Oklahoma City". NBA.com. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
11. "VIPERS FINALIZE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
12. "LEGENDS ACQUIRE MATTHEW MAYER". NBA.com. March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
13. "【#60 マシュー・メイヤー 選手】新規入団のお知らせ". FightingEagles.jp (in Japanese). July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
14. "【#60 マシュー・マイヤー 選手】契約解除のお知らせ". ファイティングイーグルス名古屋. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.

External links

• Baylor Bears bio
• Illinois Fighting Illini bio