Not making USA team gives Mannion shot at U17 Basketball World Cup with Italy

PODGORICA (FIBA U16 European Championship 2017) - Nico Mannion started the late spring hoping to make it to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018. After the disappointment of not making the United States U16 team, Mannion is now getting his chance with Italy at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017.

The saga goes back to May 24 when Mannion's name was added to the list of 32 players for USA Basketball's training camp ahead of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship. The point guard made the cut to the final 16 and was just three more training sessions away from clinching a spot in the USA team. But the USA coaching staff decided on June 9 to not choose Mannion for the team, which went undefeated in winning the U16 continental crown and qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018. 

Nico Mannion trying out for USA Basketball for the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017.

"It wasn't really … there's nothing I could … I can't be mad. I did what I could and they made the decision that they felt was right," Mannion said.

"I started out the week playing at point guard and then once they cut to 16 they moved me off the ball, which I feel isn't really my position. I feel that I am a true point guard. So they moved me off the ball and in my mind I was still trying to be a facilitator when I should have been attacking a little more and coming off ball screens harder."

The disappointment didn't have a long time to linger as Mannion was soon thereafter forced to make a lasting decision - in a short amount of time.

Mannion's father is Pace Mannion, who was an NBA small forward from 1983 to 1989 before heading to Europe and playing a number of years in Italy with most of his success coming at Cantu, including winning the Korac Cup in 1991. Through his long career in Italy, Mannion was well known by the Italian coaches. And after USA Basketball said no to Nico, the Italian federation reached out to the Mannions if he didn't want to play for Italy at the FIBA U16 European Championship.

"It was a good feeling knowing someone else wanted me," the younger Mannion admits. "It took us a while to figure out if I wanted to do it."

The biggest concern was that if Mannion - a flashy point guard with a loud game and a mop of red hair to go with it - played for Italy in Montenegro that he would not have a chance to play for the United States in the future. And Mannion has high goals in the game, such as playing for a major college team such as Duke or Kentucky or UCLA and then play in the NBA. That could also mean he might play for USA Basketball later on in his career.

But in the end, Mannion and his family chose the green, white and red of Italy over the red, white and blue of the United States.

"It took a while … maybe a week and a half or two weeks. I just slept on it and I kind of just made the decision to come on over here and get the experience; getting to see the other types of basketball outside the United States," Mannion said.

"It was a good feeling knowing someone else wanted me."Nico Mannion

Fast forward to August 4 and his arrival in Italy to join the U16 team in their preparations for the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017, which was starting on August 11. One might think that makes for a difficult transition for a player, especially one who handles the ball as much as Mannion does.

"I wouldn't say it's been hard," Mannion says. "These guys treat me really well. It's been pretty easy coming here to play with them. A couple of them speak English and help me a little bit with some of the words I don't understand. They've made it really easy."

Mannion says he speaks Italian fluently but "I just don’t get to speak it enough at home, so it's a little rusty."

Mannion's mother Gaia was born and raised in Rome. She played volleyball and was playing the game while Pace Mannion was starring in basketball. Mannion was born in Siena and the family moved to Utah in the western United States when he was almost 2 years old. His father became - and still is - a studio analyst for Utah Jazz games and Nico stayed in Utah until he was 12 years old when he moved to Arizona, where he turned into an elite prospect with his exciting game.

Just how exciting Mannion can be on the court was on display on the third day of action in Podgorica. After making 5-of-15 shots in the opening loss to France and then 5-of-12 attempts versus Estonia, things started to really hum against Russia.

Mannion hit 10-of-14 shots in the first half and went to the locker room with 25 points. He remained hot in the second half and made 3-of-4 attempts to move to 33 points. He alone was out-scoring Russia midway through the third quarter 33 to 25 with Italy up 60-26 at that point. And Russia did not pull even with Mannion's output until the 2:43 minute mark of the third quarter at 64-33.

Mannion ended up with 42 points on 16-of-22 shots - including 4-of-6 three-pointers - to go with six steals, five rebounds and three assists in an 86-57 victory. For the tournament, Mannion is averaging a tournament-high 22.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals - also tops in Podgorica.

"This is a big victory for us. We won by a lot to kind of boost our confidence going into tournament play," said Mannion, who next face hosts Montenegro in the Round of 16.

Nico Mannion's shot wasn't falling today but he showed flashes of his vast potential. 6'2", good athlete, ball-handling + some vision. pic.twitter.com/irwCEguEpA

— NBADraftProspects (@draftprosnba) August 11, 2017

The winner will reach the Quarter-Finals and stay alive for not only the title but also a berth at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 in Argentina. Italy finished fourth in 2012 and 2013 but the last U16 podium finish came in 1991 when the Italians claimed their only cadet title.

"Obviously the goal is to win it all," Mannion stated.

But getting Italy back to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup is a major goal as well since the Italians missed the 2016 edition and have only played at one of the four tournaments.

"Yes, I would be very happy to face up against the USA at U17."Nico Mannion

When asked what it would mean to make the U17 global spectacle in Argentina next year, Mannion said: "It would be a blessing. It's all god's gift."

And then the topic of perhaps facing the United States in Argentina came up. Mannion looked down, let out a little smile and said quietly: "Yes, I would be very happy to face up against the USA at U17."

That would fully bring Mannion's saga full circle.

FIBA