For Marial Shayok, basketball is in his blood. His 6-foot-9 father, Makor, was a fierce rebounder at Dayton University before playing overseas. His older sister Yar, who is 6-1, carried on the tradition with a solid career at the University of Detroit Mercy before playing overseas herself. His older brother Shayok, who also stands 6-9, played at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
"I was born into it," Shayok said to NBC Sports Philadelphia Friday. "Even the neighborhood that I was raised in was a basketball neighborhood, with the rise of Vince Carter when I was a young kid, and having a bunch of stars in the NBA really emerge, like rockstars. So basketball was always the main thing in my life and the dream."
Marial is now the first Shayok, and Ottawa, Canada native, to reach the NBA.
"I was able to be the first one out of my family, out of my city of Ottawa, to be drafted to the NBA and I'm so happy and grateful to be in this position," Shayok said.
"Everyone (in my family) had a part in this accomplishment and so we were all obviously very emotional."
One of the oldest players in the draft at 23 years old, Shayok knew there were no guarantees on draft night. Shayok had worked out for the Sixers early in the draft process, but he had also worked out with 14 other teams, in addition to showcasing his skills at the Portsmouth Invitational, Combine and G-League Elite camp.
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He knew he had a solid season as a redshirt senior at Iowa State, as the only player nationally to average 18.5 points while shooting at least 49 percent from the field, 38 percent behind the arc, and 87 percent at the free throw line.
But, he also knew his offensive abilities weren't on display for the first three years of his collegiate career at the University of Virginia.
"Just trying to stay positive," Shayock said about the uncertainty on draft night. "I think I did pretty well in the draft process. … and I really just left it in God's hands, kept my faith and I'm just glad and grateful that I'm here."
Sixers general manager Elton Brand is glad, too.
"We studied him for awhile," Brand said Thursday night after the draft concluded. "Started for three years at Virginia, where he was more of a defensive player and then he transferred and became an offensive player, averaging over 18 points per game, great three-point shooter. Tough, gritty. Young talent and he can play."
The Sixers have already made their impression on Shayock.
"The organization is obviously one of the best in the league, one of the best teams in the league with the talent they have, with two of the biggest stars in the NBA. Me, being the player that I am, hopefully I can just come in and be confident and help win games.
"It's surreal, a dream come true, still hard to believe. I don't even think it's sunk in yet. But it's reality and I'm just definitely grateful and glad that I'm here."
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