Men’s basketball transfer Goanar Mar might be able to play immediately this season – despite NCAA rules making transfer players sit out one year before playing for their new school. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, men’s basketball coach Ben Jacobson announced that the team would be seeking a waiver from the NCAA for Mar in order to let him take the floor right away this season for the Panthers.

Mar entered the transfer portal this past offseason after playing his first three seasons of college basketball at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. A native of Mankato, Minn., he looks to join the UNI basketball program seeking a fresh start and to be closer to home. As a true freshman at George Mason, Mar put up solid numbers. He averaged nearly 11 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, averaging 31 minutes per contest as only a freshman. His sophomore year was riddled with injuries, particularly a fractured foot that caused him to miss 14 games and prevented him from getting into the flow of the season. Mar only averaged 15 minutes per game off the bench for George Mason last season, his junior year. Due to the lack of playing time and need to be closer to his hometown, Mar saw the Panthers as a great fit.

Mar will provide the Panthers with a strong rebounder and high energy on the defensive end, two things that the team will be looking to replace following the departure of MVC Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Brown from last year’s squad. While he won’t entirely replace the production of Brown, Mar will be able to help fill one of the biggest holes that the Panthers will be looking to replace from last year’s team that went 25-6 and won the regular season Missouri Valley Conference title.

Mar will still have one year of college basketball eligibility remaining regardless if the NCAA grants his transfer waiver or not. The Panthers hope that this season he will be able to contribute to an already strong team.