The state of Maine has never been known as a basketball hotbed, but that perception may be changing with the emergence of Cooper Flagg. A freshman at Duke University who hails from Newport, Maine, Flagg is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft if he declares after this season.
While there is an immense amount of hype surrounding Flagg, a lesser-known player from Maine has become one of the most dominant defensive players in the Ohio Valley Conference and a fan favorite at Arkansas-Little Rock.
Tuongthach Gatkek, in his first season at UALR, was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. With a first name that many people struggle to pronounce, he is affectionately known as "Tuon" (pronounced Toon) by the fans.
Gatkek, 23, is the son of immigrants from Sudan and was born in Portland, Maine. While he moved to Texas in middle school, Gatkek remained close with his childhood community in Maine and travels back to host basketball camps for kids in the offseason.
"Growing up in Maine, there was a lot of good hoopers in the state, but no one would talk about them outside of the state," Gatkek said. "We all grinded really hard to make names for ourselves. That's what Cooper has done and that's what I'm doing. There are a lot of great players out of Maine. There is a lot of up and coming (talent) as well, so it's going to be big real soon."
Flagg has taken a more linear path in his basketball journey while Gatkek took the long road, making several stops along the way in his college basketball career before finally winding up with the Trojans this year.
He started his college career in 2020 at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. After a successful season in junior college, Gatkek received a scholarship to the University of Florida. He made 21 appearances but only averaged seven minutes a game in his lone season with the Gators in 2021-22.
Looking for more playing time and a permanent home following a coaching change, Gatkek left Florida and joined Texas State ahead of the 2022-23 season. Things didn't work out as planned and Gatkek departed Texas State after making 12 appearances in one season.
Gatkek found himself completely out of basketball in 2023-24.
"When I was transferring to Texas State, I was telling them, 'Hey, I want to find a home,' " he said. "I wanted (Texas State) to be it, I didn't want to transfer no more. It didn't go like that. I didn't play much due to injuries and mental health."
Gatkek was ready to give college basketball one last chance the following season. After connecting with UALR Coach Darrell Walker, Gatkek decided to join the program with hopes of finding the home he had been looking for throughout his career.
"It's kind of easy to fit in here because of the coaching staff and the players," Gatkek said of his transition to UALR. "Everybody is very welcoming and they just want you to do great. Once I first got here, I felt like I was behind. My mindset was to take it one game at a time. Eventually, (my) games started getting better and better."
Gatkek averaged 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during the regular season, both career highs at the Division I level. His production increased as the year progressed and he finished the regular season five double-doubles, including four coming OVC play.
Gatkek led the OVC in blocks at 1.5 per game and was fifth in steals with a 1.7 average. As the oldest player on the team, he quickly became a team leader, especially on the defensive side of the floor.
"(Coach) Mike White was at Florida and he had Tuon," Walker said. "Now he's at Georgia and he told (us), 'I'm telling you, if you get this guy, he's going to get you 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 or 4 blocks and 2 or 3 steals every night and he's going to play his heart out.'
"He's the heart and soul of this team. He plays hard. Plays with a lot of energy and covers up a lot of mistakes we make defensively by either changing a shot, blocking a shot, or getting a steal."
Gatkek's efforts on defense were validated earlier in the week when he was voted the OVC Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and communications directors. Trojans fans have taken such a liking to Gatkek that posters of him have appeared at the Jack Stephens Center, and their chants of his nickname offer assurance that Little Rock was the right place for him.
"I love them," Gatkek said of the Trojan fans. "After all the games even, (they're chanting) 'Tuon! Tuon!' Since I got here, even from the jump, I knew instantly I wanted to be here. I wish I was here all four years. With Coach Walker and just being in Little Rock, I feel like it's just a great program overall."
Following his breakout at the Division I level, Gatkek plans use his final season of eligibility and return to UALR for 2025-26.
Gatkek said he is grateful to have finally found the home he'd been searching for all these years, albeit more 1,600 miles from where it all started back in Portland, Maine.
"I got one more year and I definitely am trying to come back next year," Gatkek said. "With the team coming next year and how I'm playing this year, I feel like it's going to be crazy. It's about to be a movie next year. I really fit in with this program."
At a glanceUALR MEN VS. TENN.-MARTINWHAT OVC Tournament second roundWHEN 6 p.m. Central on ThursdayWHERE Ford Center, Evansville, Ind.RECORDS UALR 18-13, 12-8 OVC; Tennessee-Martin 14-18, 9-11RADIO KBZU-FM, 106.7, Little RockSTREAMING ESPN-Plus
At a glance
UALR MEN VS. TENN.-MARTIN
WHAT OVC Tournament second round
WHEN 6 p.m. Central on Thursday
WHERE Ford Center, Evansville, Ind.
RECORDS UALR 18-13, 12-8 OVC;
Tennessee-Martin 14-18, 9-11
RADIO KBZU-FM, 106.7, Little Rock
STREAMING ESPN-Plus