Arizona Basketball: Italian sensation Nico Mannion leader of the Wildcats

Arizona Basketball will have a new leader this year, he goes by the name Nico Mannion.

One of the top incoming players or the 2019-20 season, according to Sports Illustrated, the Italian born sensation Nico Mannion is ranked No.6. He will be the leader for Arizona Basketball this upcoming season and will look to take the Wildcats on a deep run in March. Only a freshman, expectations will be high for him but great players live up for this kind of challenge.

There are many things he will need to accomplish this season as the leader of the team, one of them is filling the void left by Brandon Williams. Those are big shoes to fill for Mannion as Williams was one of the Wildcats top scorers last season. His skill set as a true point guard is going to be heavily relied upon every game this season.

There is one thing to play in front of high school crowds, but it’s another thing to play in front of the greatest fans inside McKale Center or on the road in the Pac-12 and during non-conference play. As the true leader on this team, Mannion will need to quickly learn how to manage his emotions and stay focused on the end task…winning games.

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That is easier said than done for an 18-year-old, but he isn’t any ordinary teenager. He’s the Italian Sensation, Nico Mannion. His experience playing against other top AAU talent as well as for his country will help him feel confident playing at a high level, against the best of the best.

To be the leader for this program requires athleticism, experience, well-rounded understanding of the game of basketball, Mannion encompasses all of that and some.

Sean Miller will be the leader on the sideline and Mannion will be the leader on the court this season. When things aren’t going his way, Mannion will need to maintain that level of maturity as his teammates will look to him for reassurance.

This may be a lot to ask for an incoming freshman, but the game of basketball has changed dramatically and it’s not uncommon for players to have to immediately take the leadership role. At Zona Zealots, we are counting down the days till Nico Mannion officially takes the floor as the leader of the 2019-20 Arizona Basketball team. Bear Down, Arizona!