Rillie: Manek Ready To Fire

It’s well-founded just how big the on-court jump between college and professional basketball is. What’s less explained though is just how big a change it is off the court.

Brady Manek has come to Perth with the weight of being one of the team’s three imports on his shoulders and took some time to find his groove at the Blitz. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MANEK M?NDAY. <br><br>Watch live on Kayo Freebies, Red Army! <a href="https://t.co/EeaiIHxfkL">pic.twitter.com/EeaiIHxfkL</a></p>&mdash; Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1571804833602228225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Of course, the 24-year-old is only in his first professional season after a successful college career, and Wildcats head coach John Rillie says once he finds his feet, he'll be a force to be reckoned with. 

"What I can tell you what I talked to him about is water finds its level. And you look at Brady Manek over his basketball career, he has been an exceptional shooter," Rillie told The Dribble.

"He will be an exceptional shooter for the Perth Wildcats. I'm not worried about that. The things that also probably play into it ... he used to be the oldest guy on his team. Now he's the youngest guy. He's never been around teammates with kids to talk about family and all of that kind of stuff.

"So it's a different dynamic for him to get used to. But with his maturity and the way he approaches basketball on a daily effort, it will come."

As a young player moving to the other side of the world, Manek’s touch with his tight-knit support network will have become somewhat severed due to the difference in time zones.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, he attended his first three years of college in his home state before moving to North Carolina. He's now moved over 16,000 kilometres away from home.

Rillie says several of the team’s veterans have taken the young forward under their wings.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brady Manek got up close and personal with some of the meanest and greenest residents at Crocodylus Park in Darwin.<br><br>??<br><br>Thanks for having us, <a href="https://twitter.com/Crocodyluspark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@crocodyluspark</a>! <a href="https://t.co/2X2WRtYirP">pic.twitter.com/2X2WRtYirP</a></p>&mdash; Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1572415445143269379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"He’s (Manek) gravitated towards Mitch Norton and Jesse Wagstaff, but in saying that TaShawn Thomas and Corey Webster are here without their families, so socially they’re going and grabbing food and stuff like that," Rillie added. 

"That’s the beauty of the Perth Wildcats team. Guys can mingle with each other in different situations, and I think that’s somewhat unique in a professional forum.

"He's done an amazing job forming relationships with his teammates as well."

Manek and the Wildcats are at home against Brisbane in Round 1 on Saturday night, with the game live and free on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.