Arizona Basketball: Exclusive interview with Nico Mannion’s mom

Arizona Basketball has had many great freshmen and one more will be added to that list this season in Nico Mannion. So why not get to know Nico a little bit more with this exclusive interview I had with his mom.

Nico Mannion. We’ve written many articles about him already and the season hasn’t even begun. By the time the 2019-20 Arizona Basketball season gets under away we’ll be writing about him a whole lot more.

To better understand who Mannion is on and off the court, why not go to the best source? His mom! At Zona Zealots, we were able to have an exclusive interview with his mom, Gaia!

Already we’ve gotten a sneak peek of Nico’s abilities during the Arizona Basketball Red and Blue game, plus all the clips that are available on social media. Soon though we’ll all see why there has been much hype around Mannion, and McKale Center will certainly be quite loud this season, and he will undoubtedly be one of the main reasons.

There are those who are already doubting his abilities, which is unfathomable. Mannion was recently left off the Bob Cousy Preseason Award Watch List Top 20, which is given to the top point guard in the country. He even was left off as a member of the media preseason All-American teams list. How is that even possible?

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When Mannion’s career is over at Arizona, he will go down as one the many great point guards, not just under Sean Miller, but all-time at Arizona. There is just something special about him that makes him that great.

I was lucky enough in person to witness his abilities, up close, at the Red and Blue game. How he carries himself on and off the court as a freshman is unique. Not many freshmen have that level of maturity that he has.

The people that would know Nico better than anyone would be his parents, who both have a background playing sports on a professional level. His dad played basketball and his mom played volleyball. Nico has the genes to play professionally, that’s for sure!

We had a chance to interview his mom, Gaia and got to know a little bit more about the next, great Arizona point guard!

Question: What are you looking forward to the most this season while watching your son play for Arizona?

“Definitely excited to watch him play at the next level in the Environment in Tucson! Arizona has the best fans in the country! College is a different stage!!”

Question: What do you think is his biggest strength as a young man?

“I believe his ability to learn, he is humble and yet very confident in his ability! I should probably say his leadership and willingness to take upon responsibilities!”

Question: What keeps him grounded?

“Indeed!!! He is a great human being and I’m so proud of him on and off the court! We as parents have always kept him grounded, we have always taught him that hard work pays off, we have always told him that life is not always fair and you can always choose how to react!  You can be bitter or you can be better!!! His family and friends keep him grounded!!”

Question: Do you have a nickname for him?

“Not really, he is just Nico.”

Question: What’s his favorite meal?

“Pasta arrabbiata, Which means angry pasta. It’s a spicy pasta that I make for him all the time and homemade risotto.”

Question: When you guys are alone do you speak Italian or English?

“Both! He has learned Italian since he started speaking, he and I speak a lot of Italian.”

Question: How do you say Bear Down in Italian?

“We have tried to translate it with Nico too, but if you translate it literally it makes no sense the meaning you could translate it as ‘Pronti alla battaglia’ which means get ready for the battle!”

Question: Did you get to watch the Red and Blue game? And if so, what did you think about the whole event?

“Of course, we got to watch it. I thought it was fun and exciting to watch him wear his Arizona uniform for the first time. Very emotional watching him come out of the tunnel. It was an OK game for him I know he was a little bit disappointed with the way he played, but I was proud of him for him being on the court and playing hard since he had strep twice in the three weeks before the game. I could tell he was tired!

Amazing atmosphere!!”

Question: Anything you would like to share with Wildcat fans that they may not know about Nico?

“Nico was born five weeks early and the doctor gave him 50% chances to make it through the night because he caught a virus, I remember the doctor telling me that he was going to make it if he was a fighter. Every time he goes through a struggle in life I remind him who he is! He’s a fighter and he doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit!”

Question: Is there anything else you would like to share to Wildcat fans out there?

“Thank you for supporting Nico! I know that the Arizona fans will always have his back! Bear Down always!”

At Zona Zealots, we would like to thank Nico Mannion’s mom Gaia for taking time out of her day and allowing Arizona Basketball fans to truly get to know her son. As always, Bear Down Arizona!