Marial Makur Shayok (/ˈʃɒk/ SHAY-ok;[1] born July 26, 1995) is a South Sudanese-Canadian professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. of the Euroleague and the Israeli Basketball Premier League He played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers and Iowa State Cyclones. Shayok represented the South Sudan national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.

Marial Shayok
Shayok in 2021
No. 3 – Maccabi Tel Aviv
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueIsraeli Basketball Premier League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1995-07-26) July 26, 1995 (age 29)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NationalitySouth Sudanese / Canadian
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2019: 2nd round, 54th overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2020Philadelphia 76ers
2019–2020Delaware Blue Coats
2020–2021Frutti Extra Bursaspor
2021–2022Fenerbahçe
2022–2023Maine Celtics
2024Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin
2024Liaoning Flying Leopards
2024–presentMaccabi Tel Aviv
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Early life

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Shayok was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to Sudanese father Makur and mother Helena. Makur, a native of Sudan, played basketball at the University of Dayton. Marial has four siblings, including two who played college basketball in the NCAA. His sister, Yar, played for the University of Detroit Mercy, then signed with a professional team in France, while his older brother Shayok played at the IMG Academy and later at Bradley University.[2]

Shayok started playing basketball at the age of seven, sometimes on the playgrounds, sometimes at the YMCA. Growing up, his favorite players were Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Penny Hardaway, and Dwyane Wade.[2]

High school career

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Shayok attended Blair Academy, where he was coached by Joe Mantegna. He was a First Team All-Prep selection by The Star-Ledger.[3] Coming out of high school, Shayok signed with Marquette but never played for the team.[4]

College career

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As a freshman at Virginia, Shayok averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. The following season, he averaged 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.[5] Shayok posted 8.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers as a junior, shooting 44 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range. He scored 23 points in Virginia's victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. Following the season, Shayok opted to transfer and signed with Iowa State on April 19, 2017.[6]

Shayok scored 24 points in a 77–60 win over Kansas on January 5, 2019.[7] On January 7, Shayok was named Big 12 Player of the Week.[8] In the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament, the redshirt senior hit a pair of big 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help five-seed Iowa State atop top seed Kansas State 63–59. Shayok finished with a game-high 21 points, helping the Cyclones battle back from a five-point deficit with 2 minutes, and 47 seconds remaining. None were bigger than the final two shots Shayok hit.[9] On March 16, 2019, in the finals of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Shayok scored 15 points in a 78–66 win over Kansas and was named the Big 12 tournament MVP to add to being named First-team All-Big 12.[10]

 
Shayok at his 2019 Iowa State Graduation

On day two of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Shayok scored 37 points, including a three-pointer to force overtime for his team, as well as the game-winning shot in OT. He was 7-of-9 from three-point range and also had 7 rebounds.[11] He was later named as part of the PIT All-Tournament Team.

Professional career

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Philadelphia 76ers (2019–2020)

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Shayok was selected with the 54th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.[12] On July 7, 2019, the 76ers announced that they had signed Shayok to a two-way contract, meaning he would split time between the 76ers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.[13] Shayok was named G League player of the week on November 18 after averaging 35.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in three games for the Blue Coats, including 42 points against the Greensboro Swarm.[14] On December 6, Shayok scored 31 points in a 110–109 win over the Capital City Go-Go on 13-of-23 shooting.[15] He had 29 points and six assists on January 20, 2020, in a 119–109 win over the South Bay Lakers.[16] On February 6, Shayok made his NBA debut for the 76ers, hitting a three-pointer in a 112–101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.[17] During the shortened 2019-20 G League season, Shayok averaged 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, shooting 46% from the field and 36% from three point range.[18] The 76ers waived him during the offseason.[19]

Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2021)

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On January 5, 2021, he signed with Frutti Extra Bursaspor of the Turkish Super League (BSL).[20] In 12 games with them, he averaged 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.

Fenerbahçe (2021)

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Following his very strong finish to the season, Shayok officially signed a two (1+1) year deal with fellow Turkish club Fenerbahçe on June 21, 2021.[21]

Maine Celtics (2022–2023)

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On October 24, 2022, Shayok joined the Maine Celtics training camp roster.[22] He averaged 19.7 points per game for the season of 2022–2023.[23]

Liaoning Flying Leopards (2024–present)

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On September 20, 2024, Shayok joined the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).[24]

International career

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Shayok was chosen to represent South Sudan at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.[25] The South Sudan men's basketball team finished the FIBA World Cup with a 3–2 record and qualified for the 2024 Olympics.[26]

Career statistics

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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

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Philadelphia 4 0 7.0 .250 .333 .750 1.8 .3 .3 .0 2.8
Career 4 0 7.0 .250 .333 .750 1.8 .3 .3 .0 2.8

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15 Virginia 34 1 14.6 .405 .380 .630 1.8 1.0 .6 .3 3.8
2015–16 Virginia 35 8 15.0 .492 .436 .548 1.9 1.1 .3 .1 4.3
2016–17 Virginia 34 14 20.6 .445 .328 .796 2.4 1.0 .9 .3 8.9
2018–19 Iowa State 34 34 32.9 .496 .386 .878 4.9 2.0 .9 .2 18.7
Career 137 57 20.7 .470 .381 .787 2.7 1.3 .7 .2 8.9

References

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  1. ^ "76ers Rookie Marial Shayok Is On The Cusp I NBA XL". YouTube. December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Baines, Tim (November 8, 2013). "Marial Shayok follows family tradition after landing a scholarship to Marquette University". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Boys basketball: Marial Shayok of Blair Academy commits to Marquette". The Star-Ledger. October 18, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  4. ^ Peterson, Randy (January 23, 2019). "What's this about Marial Shayok's very lofty 50-40-90 goal?". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ^ Birch, Tommy (January 16, 2018). "Virginia transfer Shayok hoping to thrive in Iowa State's system next season". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  6. ^ Peterson, Randy (April 19, 2017). "Iowa State hoops lands Virginia transfer Marial Shayok". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "Virginia transfer Shayok flourishing for Iowa State". The Daily Progress. Associated Press. January 7, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  8. ^ Visser, Ben (January 7, 2019). "Marial Shayok, the Big 12's leading scorer, personifies gym-rat mentality at Iowa State". The Gazette. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  9. ^ Birch, Tommy (March 15, 2019). "A look at Marial Shayok's two big shots that helped Iowa State to the Big 12 title game". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. ^ "Iowa State's Shayok All-Big 12 first-team". Des Moines Register. March 10, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. ^ Parsons, Brian (April 18, 2019). "Marial steals the show at the PIT". WAVY-TV. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  12. ^ Naso, Josh (June 21, 2019). "Sixers draft Iowa State's Marial Shayok with 54th overall pick". Sixers Wire. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Team Signs Shayok to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Pompey, Keith (November 18, 2019). "Marial Shayok garners NBA G-League player of week". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  15. ^ Carlin, Ky (December 6, 2019). "Sixers' Marial Shayok turns in another stellar outing for Blue Coats". Sixers Wire. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  16. ^ Carlin, Ky (January 20, 2020). "Sixers' Zhaire Smith, Marial Shayok lead Blue Coats to win over Lakers". Sixers Wire. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  17. ^ Levick, Noah (February 6, 2020). "Joel Embiid struggles against Bucks as Sixers' dreadful road trip finally ends". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Schmidt, Dakota (April 25, 2020). "Let's Appreciate Some G Leaguers: Edition #5". Ridiculous Upside. SB Nation. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  19. ^ Streicher, Bill (November 20, 2020). "Report: Sixers are waiving two-way player Marial Shayok". Sixers Wire. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Bursaspor adds Shayok to their roster". EuroBasket. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  21. ^ Maggi, Alessandro (June 21, 2021). "Fenerbahce officially signs Marial Shayok". Sportando. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  22. ^ "Maine Celtics Select Two in G League Draft, Announce Training Camp Roster". October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  23. ^ "Career Stats".
  24. ^ "辽宁男篮官宣外援沙约克加盟 !身披8号战袍". 光明网. 沈阳晚报. September 20, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  25. ^ "Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel fortifies South Sudan's World Cup squad". August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  26. ^ "Three Blair Alumni and Coach Mantegna Make History in Qualifying for 2024 Olympics". September 5, 2023.
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