Nico Mannion was the No. 9 recruit in the country in the Class of 2019, and so far, he has been a major part of Arizona’s 10-2 start. He’s projected as a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and the Wildcat freshman broke down his film with ESPN’s Mike Schmitz shortly into his collegiate career.
In the 25-minute video, Schmitz goes over tons of plays with Mannion, asking him what he saw, giving him praise when deserved and critiquing him, too. Schmitz doesn’t kiss up to the point guard and doesn’t shy away from pointing out his weaknesses while maintaining a clear professionalism and deep knowledge that commands respect.
This video is perfect for anyone who wants a deep dive into Mannion’s game, or just basketball in general. Film break downs are one of the best ways to learn about the sport, and Schmitz and Mannion do an excellent job of explaining what is happening, or what should have happened, in each of the clips and why.
For Wildcats fans specifically, this video has plenty of merit, too. Schmitz asks Mannion quality questions about himself and his teammates, providing some insight into how the team is coached and how the players think.
The Spin on Nico Mannion
Mannion is a homegrown talent for Arizona, hailing from Phoenix and attending Pinnacle High School. He was a five-star recruit and the top player in the state for the Class of 2019, according to 247Sports. He chose the Wildcats over Marquette, Arizona State, Duke, Kansas, UCLA and many more.
Though he went to high school in Arizona, Mannion was born in Siena, Italy, and holds dual citizenship in Italy and the United States. He has international experience playing for Italy, participating in the 2017 FIBA Under-16 European Championship in Podgorica, Montenegro, and in European qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the fourth-youngest player to ever don an Italian jersey for the senior team at 17 years old.
As of Dec. 20, 2019, the point guard is averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per contest for Arizona while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor, making him the team’s second-leading scorer and top distributor.
