Italian teen phenom Nico Mannion leaves lasting impression on senior national team debut in World Cup Qualifiers

ROME (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - After much hype and intrigue, Italian teenage prodigy Nico Mannion showcased breathtaking skills during his senior national team debut in the Azzurri's last game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers' First Round.

In a possible foreshadow of Italy’s exciting future, the 17-year-old point guard became the fourth youngest player to wear the national team jersey when he stepped on the court against the Netherlands on Sunday.

Having already secured Group D's top honors and qualified for the Second Round, Italy tested their depth during the 81-66 loss against the Dutch with Mannion the beneficiary, playing a team-high 29 minutes. As could be expected, it took time for him to adapt to the senior level but there were glimpses of the precocious talents which have made him a social media sensation.

The energetic 6ft 3in (1.91m) playmaker had trouble from the field, hitting just 3 of 10 attempts, but he showed enough to suggest he’s going to be a force to reckon with in the future.

In an impressive start, the player notable for his mop of red hair drained a long pull up jumper off the dribble in a sign of his innate ability to gain separation from a defender.

For such a young player, it didn't come as a big surprise to see Mannion have trouble finish at the rim but one spectacular move in the second half undoubtedly caused a stir. After receiving the ball beyond the three-point line, he faked the closing defender and with a burst of speed explosively drove down the lane and finished prettily with his left hand over the towering Nick Oudendag.

"Unbelievable. During the national anthem and before the game I was very excited and then from the jump-ball I thought only about playing well," Mannion said. 

"I had fun and it was a fantastic and very useful experience. This is a great group, they helped me from the first day and coach (Meo) Sacchetti was great. I learned a lot and there's a lot more I have to learn but it's been a really unforgettable two weeks for me. It was an honor.

"I had little more than a week of training with the Azzurri but I think I played a solid game against much more experienced players."

"DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM I WAS VERY EXCITED, ESPECIALLY TO SEE THE HAPPY FACE OF MY MOTHER SEEING ME WEARING THE ITALIAN JERSEY."Mannion

 Mannion also spoke of the bonding he went through off the court with his new teammates.

"I roomed with Stefano Tonut but I felt comfortable with everyone. Christian Burns and I talked and joked from the first day, but all the guys were perfect and welcomed me from the first day as if I had been one of them for years," he said.

The flashes of brilliance against the Netherlands demonstrated why he is such an intriguing prospect.

The son of Pace Mannion - who played in the NBA in the 1980s before a highly decorated career in Europe - and former Italian volleyball star Gaia Mannion, Nicolo burst onto the scene in 2016 when he produced a throwdown during a scrimmage at a camp in Los Angeles that went viral on social media and was shared by several NBA players.

Since that jaw-dropping posterizer, Mannion has been followed closely and is projected to be a highly fancied prospect at the 2020 NBA Draft due to his explosive scoring ability and instinctive feel for the game.

Mannion starred for Pinnacle High School in Arizona last season and was unleashed on the international stage at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 in Podgorica, Montenegro.

A holder of dual US and Italian citizenships as a result of him moving with his parents to the U.S. at age two, he decided to play for Italy when the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) reached out to him following his unsuccessful attempts at making the U16 USA team.

He led all players in scoring in Podgorica - including an astonishing 42-point outburst against Russia - and it was just a matter of time before he played for the senior team. 

Mannion enjoyed representing Italy at the senior level and making his mother proud at the same time. 

"My mother is very Italian and  tries to infuse me with that (Italian culture) in the United States," he said. "During the national anthem I was very excited, especially to see the happy face of my mother seeing me wearing the Italy jersey."

Having taken that first step of making his senior debut, Mannion is now set to become a regular fixture in Italy's hopes and dreams for many years to come.

FIBA