SEATTLE – Walking through the hallways of the Redhawk Center, it’s difficult to miss the towering 7-foot frame of sophomore Austin Maurer. Maurer, a center from Medford, Ore., joins the Seattle University roster as a three-time state champion at Cascade Christian High School and holds the 2023 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year honor, along with two All-State selections and a 3A Player of the Year title.
Though Seattle U fans will see Maurer don the red and white for the first time in the 2025-26 season, he isn’t a stranger to the hardwood of the Redhawk Center and Climate Pledge Arena. As an opponent at Grand Canyon University in 2024-25, he quickly became familiar with the energy of the Redhawk faithful and the atmosphere they created.
“I actually got to play at Climate Pledge Arena and the Redhawk Center last year because we played Seattle U, and then we played Maryland at Climate Pledge Arena in the NCAA Tournament, and both of them were so different, but so electric,” Maurer said. “Both games were probably our loudest, most intense games of the year. So it was super fun.”
Maurer touts an imposing wingspan, creating problems for opposing guards driving to the rack or looking to get off a mid-range jumper. What separates him from traditional big men is his spatial ability and offensive versatility. As a senior in high school, he led the Challengers with 28.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
“I think my ability to stretch the floor and shoot the three is probably the most unique thing I have,” Maurer said. “I think it’s a little mix of everything – offense and defense – being able to finish around the rim and having a good touch. My athleticism is something some people don’t realize. I can jump pretty high, catch lobs and get to the rim.”
As Seattle U begins its journey in the West Coast Conference this coming season, Maurer’s size and scoring ability will be crucial for Head Coach Chris Victor’s squad — going toe-to-toe against high-flying offenses typically seen in WCC play. When weighing his decision on where to commit for the 2025-26 campaign and beyond, the brand of basketball the Redhawks produce, as well as how the coaching staff utilizes their big men, fit his skill set.
“I liked Seattle U’s play style and how they use their bigs and their forward-type guys,” Maurer said. “They had Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe last year who gave us a lot of problems. I liked how they spaced the floor and I liked how they used their players.”
Maurer comes from a long line of athletes. His father and grandfather both played in the NFL, and his mother was a volleyball standout at Oregon State University, where his parents met. As a kid, Maurer got to experience all sports and credits his parents for letting him do so. When asked about how playing other sports aided his basketball game, he explained that without the exposure, his skill set might not have developed as well.
“Definitely the hand-eye coordination,” Maurer said. “Whether it was football or baseball, I think the hand-eye coordination from those sports is translatable, and it’s different from a guy who only played basketball his whole life. Whether it’s hitting a ball with a bat, throwing a ball, catching a football — it all helps.”
Although the Medford native admits there isn’t much of a spotlight on the local basketball scene, growing up in Pacific Northwest basketball culture helped shape his game — going against some of the best the region has to offer in his formative years.
“Living in Northwest basketball, I think it’s super slept on. Medford, maybe not as much, but once you get out of Medford, we’d go to the Salem Hoopla or the Beaverton YMCA,” Maurer said. “We went to Seattle a couple times to play tournaments and got to play against the best players from Oregon, Washington, Idaho — states like that. Competing against all of them growing up and then seeing those guys, what they went on to do in high school and where they ended up — I think that’s super cool.”
When asked who inspires him or who he looks to model his game after, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo easily takes the cake. However, it wasn’t the “Greek Freak’s” athleticism or ability to drive through the lane at lightning pace that Maurer hopes to emulate, but rather his work ethic and development path.
“The first NBA game I got to see was Giannis’ rookie year. So I got to see this thin, raw talent in Giannis, fresh out of the draft, and got to see him develop,” Maurer said. “It was crazy to me — just seeing how much better he got so fast. It was an inspiration to me to see how fast you can get better through hard work.”
Outside of basketball, since moving to Seattle, Maurer has been adapting to his new environment, exploring the city and building bonds with his new teammates. Watching shows like Knightfall and Ozark on Netflix helps him decompress from tough games and long practices, while video games like Rainbow Six Siege and Fortnite have been a way to connect with teammates and stay in touch with friends from Medford and GCU.
“I’ll play with some friends from GCU and home, and I’ll play with Maleek and Brayden in some Rainbow Six Siege — we got some dubs,” Maurer said, smiling.
Though he had visited the greater Seattle area for basketball tournaments in middle school, he has never had the opportunity to truly explore the city as a local — something the sophomore says he’s looking forward to as he builds his relationship with his new school.
“I actually had only been to Seattle once in eighth grade for a tournament, but I loved it. The past four weeks I’ve gotten to drive around and ride on the Lime scooters and check out the cool spots.”
When asked about his favorite Seattle destinations so far, Maurer pointed to his most frequented food stop, as well as the scenery and energy the city has to offer.
“Carmelo’s Tacos,” Maurer said with a grin. “We’ve been hitting that a bunch. We went to Madison Park and got in the water, which was super fun. And then just seeing downtown — it’s a cool, cool city.”
As the school year approaches, off the court Maurer says he’s excited to dive headfirst into the Seattle U community — getting to know his peers in the classroom as well as Redhawk fans in the stands. He believes those connections will help him adapt to his new surroundings.
“Just getting to meet people outside of basketball — family as well,” Maurer said. “Just growing my relationships around here because I don’t know a lot of people up here yet. So the more people I can grow and connect with, I think that’ll help.”
With the start of the 2025-26 season just a couple of months away — and a new team beginning to take shape — Maurer and the Redhawks are focused on building chemistry, getting stronger and riding the excitement of joining the WCC. Maurer is embracing the challenge head-on and wants Redhawk fans to be a part of it.
“I think it’s super exciting, all the new changes. I think it’s going to be a great team, a great year. It’s going to be a ton of fun to be a part of.”
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