Nico Mannion repeats as Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year

Five-star signee Nico Mannion achieved another milestone in his basketball career by repeating as Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

At only 18 years of age, Nico Mannion is proving why he is one the best. After helping Pinnacle High School win their second high school state championship about a month ago, Mannion is back at it again repeating as Gatorade Arizona Basketball Player of the Year. He is also currently in the running as one of three finalist for Gatorade’s National Player of the Year. Interesting fact, there has not been a winner for national boys basketball player of the year who has attended Arizona, he would be the first!

Expectations will be high when Mannion and the No.1 recruiting class in the nation start the 2019-20 season. I have a feeling though that the pressure won’t phase him at all. How he carries himself on the court and off the court says a lot. On the court, he dominates. There is nothing Mannion can’t do, which he put on full display this past high school championship season. He dropped 42 points in the semifinals and then 21 points in the finals. Off the court, he is respectful and mature. He even recently confirmed his commitment to Arizona, even with the all the drama and distractions Coach Miller and his program has had to deal with.

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Besides high school basketball and AAU basketball, Mannion has played internationally. He played in the under 16 FIBA World Qualifier for Italy and then recently he played on the senior FIBA World Cup team for Italy – at the age of 17!  The experience he gained from playing against international talent at the level is invaluable, which will make it an easy transition to the toughness of college basketball.

To say he will dominate the Pac-12 and college basketball next season is an understatement. His quickness, his confidence level and his toughness are some of the traits that he has. There is something special about Mannion, he seems to have “it” and we will all get to witness that next season, even it’s just for one season.

Will he go down as one of the great point guards to have played at Arizona? That is very much a possibility. Coach Miller will look to Mannion to run the offense alongside another five-star recruit in Brandon Williams. Having been to the last game of the season against ASU, Mannion got a taste of what its like to play in McKale Center. It’s going to be lit watching him play!

Mannion still remains, according to 24/7 Sports, as the No.1 point guard in the Class of 2019 and the No.1 player in the state of Arizona. It’s only appropriate he receives this latest award.

At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate Nico Mannion on repeating as Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year. This will be the first of many awards he will go onto win in his basketball career, that is a fact! Bear Down, Arizona!