LAS VEGAS โ Instead of cutting down his list to five finalists Wednesday, Nico Mannion actually added a couple.
Theyโre big hitters, too: Kentucky and North Carolina.
โNorth Carolina did call, Kentucky called,โ the five-star point guard from Phoenix said Wednesday at the Under Armour Association Finals. โI didnโt get to talk to Roy (Williams, UNC coach) but my dad talked to him. I talked to (Kentucky coach John) Calipari twice in the last week.โ
Both Kentucky and North Carolina jumped in as word spread that Mannion was moving up to the class of 2019 over the summer, a reclassification he announced last week.
Thatโs probably not good news for Arizona, although the Wildcats have impressed the Pinnacle High School star during several unofficial visits, including last seasonโs Red-Blue Game and regular-season games against UConn and UCLA.
โIโve been there quite a few times,โ Mannion said. โThe environment is great. Even the Red-Blue Game is just a scrimmage and a dunk contest but itโs sold out. Thereโs not much you can say about it โ itโs just a great environment.โ
Mannion said heโs planning to cut his list down sometime after the July evaluation period ends this weekend and then start scheduling visits. But he said he isnโt planning to make a commitment until January or February because he wants to take official visits during the season in order to get a feel for the regular-season environment.
Mannion said he thinks Arizona might change to a more perimeter-oriented, faster style next season and that he is curious to see how it plays out.
โI want to watch them play and see how their style changes, if it changes,โ Mannion said, and โsee who they recruit, whoโs coming in and whoโs staying and stuff like that.โ
Mannion helped the West Coast Elite beat the Atlanta Xpress 79-71 on Wednesday despite not having teammate Josh Green, another five-star Arizona target.
Thatโs something WCE will have to get used to: Green is out all week after separating his right shoulder last week.
โItโs a big loss,โ Mannion said. โHeโs obviously one of our best players and best defenders. Him going down means everybody has to step up a little more.โ
Green attended the game in a black Under Armour shirt, and tried to keep an upbeat tone.
โItโs definitely tough but itโs a team game,โ he said. โIโm happy with the way the season ended.โ
Crazy scene Wednesday night in the tiny Liberty High School auxiliary gym, where a game featuring LeBron Jamesโ son (with dad watching) was canceled.
Fans crowded around doors entering the 13U game of Bronny James, so much so that they nearly spilled into the main court, which featured the Las Vegas Prospects (and their many UA targets) and later the Oakland Soldiers.
While I couldnโt get in, either, the Las Vegas Review-Journalโs Sam Gordon said a pregame ruckus developed after a fan heckled James.
