Maymon, Ricks Join @MizzouHoops’ Staff as Graduate Assistants
9/13/2018 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The pair played collegiately for Cuonzo Martin
COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou Basketball announced the additions of graduate assistants Nafis Ricks and Jeronne Maymon on Thursday. Both Ricks and Maymon played collegiately for Mizzou head coach Cuonzo Martin, with Ricks attending Missouri State and Maymon playing at Tennessee during Martin's tenures in Springfield and Knoxville, respectively.
"Nafis and Jeronne are two high-character men who played for me that are passionate about helping student-athletes grow and succeed in life," Martin said. "They both competed at a high level and had outstanding playing careers. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for the game will help our program immensely."
Ricks, a Philadelphia native, shined at Missouri State from 2009-2011 after success at Johnson County Community College. He captured a NJCAA National Championship in 2009 with Johnson County and earned the NABC NJCAA National Player of the Year Award and NJCAA State Farm First-Team All-America Honors.
Martin then brought Ricks to Missouri State, where he started 35 games as a senior during the 2010-11 season. Ricks averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game and steered the Bears to a 2011 regular season Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
After his collegiate career, Ricks played for BC Jyvaskyla, a first division club in Finland where he averaged 24.6 points per game and 9.7 rebounds. Ricks then spent two seasons in Brazil, where he poured in 17.4 points per game with Liga Sorocaba before a stint with Rio Claro Basquete in the Brazilian Paulista league.
After his playing career, Ricks served as a volunteer team counselor and coach at California-Berkeley under Martin, where he trained student athletes in practices and worked to improve the versatility of the Golden Bears' squad.
"Coach Martin has had an incredible impact on my life," Ricks said. "He has always been a mentor for me on and off the court. I'm excited for an opportunity to work with him and such a great program at Mizzou."
Maymon, a Madison, Wis. native, was a standout at Tennessee, finishing his time in Knoxville ranked seventh on the all-time list for offensive rebounds (241). He averaged 8.1 rebounds per game over two seasons as a junior and chipped in 12.1 points per contest during the 2011-12 campaign.
Maymon earned a number of honors including the SEC's Most Improved Player (Blue Ribbon) and 2013-14 All-SEC Second Team recognition. His 37 games played as a senior tied Tennessee's single-season record and his 123 offensive rebounds that season marked the third-highest single-season total in program history. Maymon played a key role in Tennessee's run to the Sweet 16 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Following his time with the Volunteers, Maymon signed a professional basketball contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League. He then spent three months playing professionally in Japan before he opted to retire from basketball following multiple knee surgeries.
"I'm extremely blessed to be in this position," Maymon said. "I've spent the last few years grinding for an opportunity. To be under Coach Martin and his staff is something I don't take for granted."
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