Tag: Brady Manek

WATCH: Brady Manek highlights from day one of G-League Elite Camp

UNC forward Brady Manek is taking part in the G-League Elite Camp this week and showcased his skills in the first scrimmage of the week.

Former UNC basketball forward [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] took the floor on Monday afternoon for the first time since North Carolina’s loss in the National Championship. Taking part in the G-League Elite Camp, Manek’s week began on Monday with his first scrimmage.

Manek scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 2-of-5 from three. He also added seven rebounds and one assist.

Manek won the fan poll for the postgame interview following a tough, three-point loss.

“Everybody is out here playing hard. Everyone wants to show their skills, wants to just compete. It’s been a while since we all got to compete like this, at a stage like this, with players like this, so it is a lot of fun, we are out here having fun and trying to get better and compete,” Manek said postgame. “There are a few different tweaks to it (NBA rules). It’s definitely a little different. It feels a little bigger. The lanes are a little bigger. It’s interesting, but it is a lot of fun,”

The G-League Elite Camp is essentially an NBA Draft Combine tryout. It allows prospects do showcase their skills in front of both NBA and G-League scouts and earn an invite to the NBA Combine that takes place later this week.

In 39 games for UNC this season, Manek had 27 starts and averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He also shot 49.3 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three.

Watch the full highlights of Manek’s game one below:

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Former UNC basketball forward Brady Manek invited to NBA G League Elite Camp

Former UNC basketball forward Brady Manek will compete in the G-League draft combine next week in Chicago.

While [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] isn’t allowed to return to UNC for another year after using up his eligibility, the forward is now looking for the next step in his career.

On Monday, Manek was one of 44 players who accepted an invite to the NBA G League Elite Camp which takes place in Chicago from May 16-17th.

The camp allows players to showcase their skills for scouts and potentially earn an invite to the NBA Combine later on in the week. It’s a big opportunity for a player like Manek who is currently projected to go undrafted this Summer in the league’s draft.

After spending four seasons at Oklahoma, Manek transferred to UNC for his final year. He helped the Tar Heels make a run to the title game and was inserted into the starting lineup mid-season.

Manek averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 49.3 percent from the field.

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Top UNC basketball transfer target named among best available

Ex-Baylor forward Matthew Mayer, a top priority for UNC basketball in the transfer portal, is listed as one of the top available transfers.

The transfer portal officially ‘closed’ over the weekend meaning any player who were to enter their name in the transfer portal moving forward would not be eligible to play this upcoming season unless a waiver was granted.

The UNC basketball program has one open scholarship following the announcement that Kerwin Walton would be entering the portal on the final day of the open transfer window.

One name that has become a key target and top priority for the Tar Heels is Baylor hybrid forward [autotag]Matthew Mayer[/autotag]. The 6-foot-9 forward is going through the NBA Draft process but did become one of the final players to enter his name in the portal over the weekend.

According to 247Sports’ released their updated transfer portal rankings — with Mayer sitting inside the top-15 of best available.

Mayer is currently No. 14 on the list.

The ex-Baylor forward played in 126 games for the Bears and was a key cog in the 2021 National Championship team they had. He averaged 8.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 39.5 percent from three as the sixth man during that season.

This past year was his first year ever starting, in which he started all 33 games for Baylor. In turn, he had a career-year with 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. His shooting did dip to just 40.9 percent overall and 32.4 percent from three.

Mayer had 10 points, three rebounds and was 2-of-5 from three in Baylor’s Round of 32 loss to the Tar Heels.

The main pitch that should be intriguing to Mayer? [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag]. While not identical games, Mayer would fill the same role Manek had as the stretch 4 in the North Carolina offense. With his size and shooting ability, he would be the exact piece that Hubert Davis has now shown to want in his offense.

Manek had career highs in points (15.1 ppg), assists (1.8 apg), field goal percentage (49.3 percent) and three-point percentage (40.3 percent) in his lone season for UNC. He was also named the most impactful transfer of the season.

Sine Mayer is going through the NBA Draft process, he does have until June 1 to officially withdraw his name and return to college. If he does, the Tar Heels should be the team to beat in his transfer portal recruitment.

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Armando Bacot’s return could put UNC as ‘legit title contender’

247Sports national writer Eric Bossi dishes on Armando Bacot and what his potential return would mean for the UNC basketball program.

UNC forward [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag] is coming off of a historical season in both the ACC and across all of college basketball. The Tar Heels’ forward now has a big decision to make regarding his future.

Does he go through the NBA Draft process to get feedback, stay in the draft or come back to college all together?

Bacot is currently slated to be picked end of the second round or undrafted in most mock drafts following the end of the season.

Bacot, who averaged 16.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this season, would play a huge role in college basketball next season if he were to return and also change the potential expectations for the Tar Heels.

247Sports national writer Eric Bossi looked at some of the top NBA Draft decisions that could shape the 2022-23 college basketball season.

Thanks to the inspired play of Armando Bacot and their guards trading hot and cold games throughout March and early April, North Carolina nearly won the 2022 National Championship. The NBA Draft decision of Caleb Love is certainly going to be an important one, but it says here that a return by Bacot to Chapel Hill could be far more important to the Heels chances in 2022-23.

Should Bacot return we are talking about a player that is likely to be the preseason ACC Player of the Year and a potential All-American. At this point he’s not likely to change much when it comes to how the NBA views him, but he could be a real test study in the value of NIL vs. going ahead and getting on to getting paid professional money. The Heels are legit title contenders with him back, possibly favorites with a return by Love as well.

During UNC’s NCAA Tournament run, Bacot made NCAA history with six straight double-doubles, including a 15-point and 15-rebound performance in the National Championship loss to Kansas.

His double-double in the title game gave him the ACC record for most double-doubles in a season (31) and tied David Robinson for the NCAA single-season record.

The Tar Heels already lose forward Brady Manek and the assumption is forward Dawson Garcia will also not return to the program after leaving mid-season to return home to deal with family illness. That leaves Justin McKoy as the only true front court option for the 2022-23 season.

The key dates for the NBA Draft process are as follows:

April 24 at 11:59 pm ET – Early entry deadline
May 16-22 – NBA Combine
June 1 – NCAA deadline for college players to withdraw and retain eligibility

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WATCH: Brady Manek sounds the siren at Hurricanes game

UNC basketball standout Brady Manek was an honorary guest of the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday afternoon.

Brady Manek has cemented himself as a fan favorite for UNC basketball fans fresh off his play this year and in the NCAA Tournament. And now he’s being recognized locally as well.

The Carolina Hurricanes made Manek their special guest on Thursday night as the forward led the team out onto the ice by sounding the siren in Raleigh against the Buffalo Sabres. The team has honorary guests do it before each home game and with the Tar Heels going on a Final Four run, why not have one of the key catalysts in the building to do it.

To make it even better, it’s in the home city of North Carolina State.

Watch Manek sound the siren and get the crowd ready for the game below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcEbU8qJ2aS/

Manek not only became a fan favorite because of his play but also his connection with the program. He wrote a letter to the program and their fans earlier this week thanking them for a great one year in Chapel Hill.

While Manek only spent the one season here, he’s forever a Tar Heel.

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Could UNC try to get involved with Texas Tech transfer?

Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr announced he will not return to the program. With UNC ties, the Tar Heels could be an option.

With the 2021-22 season in the books and roster turnover expected for every program in college basketball, UNC now turns to the transfer portal to potentially fill some needs for next season.

It is expected that both [autotag]Caleb Love[/autotag] and [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag] will at the very least go through the NBA Draft process and test their stock. The Tar Heels will definitely be losing [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] from this years roster and there is still a decision to be made for versatile wing [autotag]Leaky Black[/autotag] — who has the option to use a fifth year under the Covid rules.

Also, with the expectation that [autotag]Dawson Garcia[/autotag] ends up not returning to the program — which is assumed — after leaving mid-season to return home with family health issues, North Carolina will need some help on the perimeter and at the hybrid forward position.

One player with Carolina ties is Texas Tech transfer [autotag]Terrence Shannon Jr[/autotag]. Shannon made it official and announced on Thursday that he will be leaving Texas Tech. He would have two years of eligibility remaining.

Coming out of high school in the 2019 class, Shannon had a top six of North Carolina, DePaul, Georgetown, Florida State, Illinois and Texas Tech.

In three years at Texas Tech he had a career average of 11.0 points per game, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He also has shot 35.1 percent from three on 205 career attempts (2.5 per game). This season he shot a career best 38.4 percent from three.

At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Shannon has been a very versatile wing who played and guarded a few different positions, from the ‘2’ to the ‘4’ at Texas Tech.

Shannon played with Bacot at IMG Academy in high school.

With Hubert Davis looking to continue the trend of a non-traditional lineup with more versatility out of his forwards and wings, Shannon could be a fit for the Tar Heels next season.

He is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal this offseason and someone who will make an immediate impact wherever he decides to go.

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Brady Manek sends out heartfelt message to UNC fans

UNC forward Brady Manek was a huge part in North Carolina’s NCAA Tournament run this season and sent out a heartfelt message to all UNC Fans.

UNC forward [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] was a huge piece to the Tar Heels’ run to a National Championship runner-up appearance in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Oklahoma transfer came to North Carolina to use his extra year of eligibility and did not disappoint.

Manek averaged 15.1 points per game this season while shooting 40.3 percent from three — both career highs. He also chipped in 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game — also a career-high.

Following UNC’s loss to Kansas in the National Championship, Manek took to twitter to send a message to all of the North Carolina fans.

Not only was Manek a huge part to UNC’s success this year, he was one of the best players in the country. He would go on to be named the Riley Wallace Award recipient for the 2021-22 season, which is given to the nation’s top impact transfer.

During the Tar Heels’ NCAA Tournament run, Manek averaged 18.1 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from three on 7.7 attempts per game.

He also added 8.2 rebounds per game.

Manek ends his college career with averages of 12.7 points per game while shooting 38.2 percent from three in 161 appearances.

Though his North Carolina career was short, it was one that will always be remembered.

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Brady Manek is highest-ranked UNC basketball player in ESPN’s Top 25 for Final Four

UNC basketball forward Brady Manek was the top Tar Heels player on ESPN’s list of best players in Final Four.

We are inching closer and closer to Saturday night’s showdown between North Carolina and Duke in the Final Four, a game that has been a long time coming.  But as we sit a few days out, ESPN has released their list of the Top 25 players in this Final Four based on their NCAA Tournament so far this year.

While Remy Martin takes the top spot and Duke’s Mark Williams is No. 2, you wont have to go far to see the first UNC player. And that player is [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] who checks in at No. 3.

ESPN praised Manek for his scoring ability in the NCAA Tournament so far, ranking him higher than any other UNC player and notable players such as Paolo Banchero, Ochai Agbaji and Jermaine Samuels:

All hail the Final Four’s top performer among volume scorers in tournament true shooting percentage. Actually, Manek nearly wins this title outright over Williams, who attempts far fewer shots. The UNC super senior’s 16 made 3s in the tournament are tops among players in New Orleans.

Manek has been really good for UNC so far in this tournament, backed by a big scoring outburst against Baylor before he was ejected with 10 minutes to go in the game. While he struggled against UCLA, he did pick it up against Saint Peters. Now, the hope is that he can catch fire against Duke on Saturday.

Caleb Love checked in at No. 7 followed by Armando Bacot (No. 10), R.J. Davis (No. 14), Leaky Black (No. 17), and Dontrez Styles (No. 24).

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Trae Young gives Brady Manek shoutout before Final Four this week

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young gives a shoutout to his former Oklahoma teammate Brady Manek.

Before he became a fan favorite at North Carolina, forward [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] spent four seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners. In that time, he was able to play with [autotag]Trae Young[/autotag] for a year before the talented guard bolted for the NBA.

As Manek finishes his career at UNC, Young is still watching and supporting his good friend.

Following Sunday’s win over Saint Peter’s that punched UNC’s ticket to the Final Four, Young gave his former teammate a shoutout. Young took to Twitter and showed just how happy he was for Manek to help get the Tar Heels to the Fianl Four:

While Young was a five-star recruit in Oklahoma’s 2017 class, Manek entered as a four-star class. They were both a part of a four-man class that helped get Oklahoma to a tournament appearance right away in 2018. As Young headed to the NBA, Manek helped lead the Sooner back in 2019 and 2021 as they made it to the round of 32 both years.

It’s safe to say Young is probably rooting for Manek and the Tar Heels this weekend.

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Armando Bacot named Most Outstanding Player of East Region

UNC basketball forward Armando Bacot has been named the most outstanding player of the East Region in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have come a long way since being on the bubble back in February. And a month later, the Tar Heels are playing the best basketball they’ve played this season en route to punching a ticket to the Final Four. 

UNC has gone through Marquette, Baylor, UCLA and Saint Peters to set up what many are calling armageddon with a matchup against Duke next weekend in New Orleans. However, the Tar Heels are ready for the showdown and are playing well thanks in large part to [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag].

On Sunday, Bacot had another big game scoring 20 points and grabbing 22 rebounds in the 69-49 win. He’s been fantastic this tournament and his efforts have earned him some recognition.

Following the game, Bacot was named the East Region’s Most Outstanding Player.

Joining Bacot on the All-East Region team was both [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Love[/autotag], also being honored for their efforts. Manek was fantastic against Baylor before being tossed for a flagrant 2. On Sunday, Manek scored 19 and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Love scored a career-high 30 points in the Sweet 16 win over UCLA and finished with 14 on Sunday.

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