Nathan Cayo (201-F-1997, college: Richmond) is a 28 year old 201cm forward that has the Canadian/Haitian citizenship and playing his fourth professional season and first with Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits (KML). Last season he played with Manchester Basketball (United Kingdom-SLB) averaging 13.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 69.9%. In the 2023-2024 season he split time with the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) averaging 1.4ppg, 1.0rpg, and in Mar.’24 signed with the Ontario Clippers (NBA G League) playing 4 games averaging 0.5ppg, 1.0rpg. He played his rookie season with Enea Abramczyk Astoria Bydgoszcz (Poland-EBL) averaging 8.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 70.2%. He also got added pro experience playing 4 seasons in the Canadian CEBL with the Montreal Alliance and Niagara River Lions. He began his basketball experience with Jean-De-Brebeuf College and then played at the University of Richmond form 2017-2022 playing a total of 123 55mes. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Rostock SeaWolves.

Thanks Nathan for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your fourth professional season for Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits (KML). After playing in Poland, Canada and England, now your in Estonia. Do you feel like a basketball globetrotter?

I do! I think year after year, especially for me the places I’ve gone too have been all so different, iI feel really blessed and fortunate to think that the same sport I played as a 5 year old has taken me to so many different places.

What have you learned to appreciate most about the Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits (KML) organization?

The professionalism has been great. It’s been top of the line in every aspect since I got here and I’m excited to get the season started.

Tartu is used to winning and you won the CEBL title the last 2 years. How hungry are you for new titles in Estonia?

I thrive off competition and always play to win. I approach everything step by step, and I focus on how everyday I can get better to perform at the highest level when it matters, so every game, one game at a time. This team was very close to winning last year and I’m hoping I can help them into getting it done this year.

You had your best season overseas in England last season. Do you see yourself being an impact player this season for Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits (KML)

I do! I think we have a great group of guys, and a staff that will put guys in the best position to impact winning. I feel like I’m able to do a lot of things that impact winning at a high level and I’m excited to be able to show that.

You’re a very versatile offensive player. How valuable has versatility been in your career and do you see your game being able to become even stronger with more experience that you get?

It’s been my calling card I believe. I’ve had lots of different roles on different teams and I’ve kind of used that to build myself into the player I am. I think its helped me to fit into a lot of different styles and still be as impactful. The beauty of this sport is you can always get better and I think I have a great opportunity this year to continue growing my game in specific aspects that I’m focused on growing.

Last season you played with Manchester Basketball (United Kingdom-SLB) averaging 13.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 69.9%. What kind of an experience was the UK? The SLB league seemed to cater very well for your game?

It was a tough year.Lots of ups and downs, struggled with injury a lot throughout the year and so the year didn’t pan out like I wanted, but in adversity there’s always an opportunity to build resilience and toughness. So it really helped me mentally to become robust and be able to handle myself and grow in tough times. The league was fun, it’s more of a North American style of play, very fast past, I enjoyed it.

You went back to the States in the 2023-2024 season splitting time with the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) playing 9 games averaging 1.4ppg, 1.0rpg, in Mar.’24 signed at Ontario Clippers (NBA G League) playing 4 game averaging: 0.5ppg, 1.0rpg. How tough was this season? What did you learn from it?

This season wasn’t as tough basketball wise, it was more tough family wise. The main point of going to the G league was because we had a newborn baby and wanted to be close to home. So everything else was just extra. So for me it was more about having a job, becoming better as a player and person, everything else didn’t bother me too much cause my mind was more on the daily opportunity to get better and provide for my family.

Is a player lost in the G-League if one isn´t one of the players that the club is really focusing on? How does one mentally deal with knowing that one doesn´t really have any chance of reaching the NBA?

Hmm I would never say doesn’t have any chance. I think if you aren’t one of their guys, it’s important to understand what the g league is, and use it for your goals instead of letting it use you. For me, I had a clear plan and reason of why I wanted to be in the G league and so all the setbacks didn’t really affect me because I was using the G league to better myself, instead of having certain expectations and feeling used by the g league.

You played your rookie season with Enea Abramczyk Astoria Bydgoszcz (Poland-EBL) averaging 8.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 70.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I think as soon as I got there it was a wake up call haha. It was my first time ever in Europe, and the culture shock was extreme. Especially being in Poland, Eastern Europe is a hard place to go as a first experience because of how drastic the culture shock is. But again, it was a great opportunity to grow and learn stuff that I carry to this day.

You played your first 2 pro seasons in Canada for with the Montreal Alliance (CEBL) averaging 12.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT-1 (50.0%), FT: 57.6% and 14.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 74.5%. What memories do you have of these 2 summers? Your game needed no adjustment from the NCAA?

I have really great and dark memories of those 2 summers. It was my first pro experience, it was my first time playing in front of family and friends in over 6-7 years so it was great in that sense. But it also taught me the hard way about the not so fun parts pf the business of basketball. And so although it was hard and I learned the hard way, I´m still grateful for those experiences and how it helped me grow. My game needed a lot of adjustment. Playing division 1 NCAA and playing against pros in night and day. Everyday you are competing against grown man who do this for a living, who are all the 1% of the !% so it needed a lot of adjustments, mostly physically.

You then played 2 seasons with the Niagara River Lions (Canada-CEBL) averaging 13.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 64.5% and 9.8ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 25.3%, FT: 58.8%. You won 2 CEBL titles in a row. Which one was sweeter?

Its really hard to answer that question, The first one I was leaving my hometown team, and taking a leap of faith. Received a lot of backlash for leaving, and the championship weekend was IinMontreal. So winning there, in front of friends and family, it being Niagara’s first championship, my wife, son, my family being there, it´s hard to beat. I think this year was a lot harder. Lots of injuries, uncertainty and even wanting to stop for the summer, so it was harder but the first one was probably sweeter.

You played at the University of Richmond (NCAA) from 2017-2022 playing a total of 155 games. You reached March Madness and the NIT Elite 8. How blessed were you to play there? Were these some of the best times in your life?

It was a blessing, met some friends that became brothers, we made history in the tournament, beat some great programs, did a lot. Playing wise my game kind of shifted to something that wasn’t me, so that helped me gain a lot of versatility but made me lose some love for the game. So I kind of had to regain that love as a pro and getting back to playing how I love, but in terms of memories, I for sure created some of the best memories in my life.

What memories do you have of those weeks in March beating Davidson to win the Atlantic title and then beating Iowa State and losing to Providence?

It kind of felt like a fever dream, like an out of body experience. When you’re a player in it, you kind of have to take it one day at a time and you don’t really realize till after how amazing what you’ve accomplished as a group is. But it felt like we were in a movie.

You were teammates with Jacob Gilyard who played in Germany last season. Are you guys like brothers? What was so special having him on the team?

Yeah that’s my brother for sure. We came into Richmond the same year, he’s known me for over a decade now, grew from boys to men so that is definitely my brother for life. He’s just a special player. He’s understanding of the game, his ability to impact the game in so many aspect at his size, his ability to read plays before it happens. He doesn’t get enough credit, but he’s a generational talent. The things he’s able to do at his size, and just him being able to prove people wrong his entire life, at literally EVERY level, from the nba to when he was a kid. It’s legendary stuff.

How did head coach Chris Mooney groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

When I decided to come back for my 5th year (covid) alongside 4 other teammates, we basically approached that season as a professional season, because for a few of us, it would’ve been our first year pro. So just the business like approach to that season really helped for my first year pro.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tyler Burton?

Hmmi dont really remember playing him 1v1 but probably me. I don’t lose 1v1’s. Asked Jacob Gilyard he’ll confirm lol.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Obi Toppin probably. I think I’ve faced other players that maybe were more talented or harder to guard but their game didn’t really translate to the NBA. But obi toppin ´sphysically was just on a whole different planet for the college level. I mean he’s probably top 10 most athletic in the NBA right now so you can imagine how it was in college lol.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jacob Gilyard, Grant Golden, Luguentz Dort, Khalil Ahmad, Omari Moore (no order)

Please list your personal NBA and Estonian Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)?

NBA: MJ, Kobe, Jokic, Lebron, Steph Curry (no order)

Estonian I need a couple months to do some more research haha

Who is your GOAT?

Jokic or Lebron, I cant decide yet since they’re both still playing

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Naa never watched it

Thanks Nathan for the chat.