Phoenix’s top point guard plays in Arizona but not yet on the Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns brought in a veteran point guard and drafted two young ones. However, one of the best point guards playing in the state this year is not donning the orange and purple.

What if I told you the Phoenix Suns future point guard was playing basketball right here in Arizona but isn’t a member of the Suns…yet.

With the NBA season about to start, the Phoenix Suns have a serviceable point guard, Ricky Rubio, for the first time since Eric Bledsoe; who was constantly hurt and did not really fit the timetable or the scheme for the Suns.

The Suns drafted Ty Jerome and signed Jalen Lecque. However, for the Suns to be a contender in the West with playoff aspirations, they need a star at the point. I am all for Jerome or Lecque becoming a league-wide star, but the fact is I don’t think Jerome has the firepower to be that.

Lecque has the athletic ability to be something special, but so often the league has seen athletic guards fade into the distance.

The Phoenix Suns are still in search of that leader who can score down the stretch, knows his teammates strengths and, most importantly, knows how to win. That guy could be right here in the Valley.

His name is Nico Mannion.

Mannion is a two-time Arizona state champion. As a freshman, he averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. As a sophomore, he upped that to 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists while leading Pinnacle High School to a state championship.

In the summer between his sophomore and junior year, he decided to reclassify and become a senior. That same summer he went to Italy and played on their national team becoming the 4th youngest Italian player to wear that jersey at 17 years-old and 3 months.

His recruiting stock took off over the summer. He went from a 3-star recruit to a 5-star and the second overall point guard in his class. The hype train started rolling.

Coach K, Sean Miller, Jay Wright, and many more came calling. He committed to the University of Arizona before his senior year to link up with his club teammate, Josh Green, and the third overall recruiting class.

Watching him average 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game did not do justice to how dominant he was.

To highlight a few of his best moments:

• 37 points and a game-winner from about 35 feet against local powerhouse, Shadow Mountain who hadn’t lost an in-state game in five years
• 45 points against national powerhouse Mater Dei
• 57 points and another game winner in the biggest game of their season

His playoff run was beyond remarkable. He scored 35 points in round 1, 35 points against Brophy College Preparatory in the quarter-finals, 42 in the semi-finals, and 34 in the state championship game while scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter after trailing.

His dominance was more impressive given his stature, 6’2, 170 pounds. When the stage got brighter, his game got better.

So why does this matter?

This was in high school. He hasn’t even played a collegiate game.

The culture of one-and-done is at an all-time high. Mannion is currently projected by NBS Sports as the 19th pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Ahead of him are 11 other freshman and three international players who have proven just as much as Mannion at the college level, nothing.

Mannion’s skill level is just as good if not better than everyone else’s in the country.

Assuming the Phoenix Suns win more games this year than in previous years, their lottery odds should be lower than what they have been.

To put it simply: the Suns should draft Mannion if he is on the board.

Think about the storylines: “The Valley comes home”

The hometown, homegrown boy who grew up in Phoenix, played his high school and college basketball in Arizona goes on to play for the NBA team he grew up watching.

Obviously, his freshman year will be very important for his draft stock, but from what I have seen, Mannion will be a phenom. The hype train will continue to roll, and it will roll right through the draft where, if he becomes a Sun, the fanbase will only love it.

Suns fan would love to see Mannion in those new orange jerseys that match the color of his hair while Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton will be in their prime.

Mannion knows how to win basketball games and his ability to lead a team is something that the Phoenix Suns need. Obviously Booker is a leader, but Mannion has the capability to command the best from others, similarly to when Steve Nash were here.

The pairing with Deandre Ayton would be something to watch. Mannion is a very good pick-and-roll player. He and can come off and shoot the three, split the pick, or be patient and allow Ayton to roll.

The calm, yet powerful style of basketball Mannion plays is something the Suns really do need from their point guard. His ability to shoot the three makes him able to fit right into the modern NBA and his inner dog mentality will make up for what is lost in physical stature on defense.

Similar to another Arizona star in the making, Kyler Murray, Mannion has been winning his entire life. There are somethings about him that you can not teach: his ability to win no matter what the cost, his basketball IQ, and leadership.

He is only 19 years old but if he becomes a Sun, Mannion will be the point guard for the Phoenix Suns that will bring a championship to the Valley of the Suns.