Manek looking for quick returns for Sooners

NORMAN — Trae Young isn’t the only freshman making a big impact for the Oklahoma men’s basketball team.

When the Sooners wrap up the preseason Wednesday night at home against East Central (7 p.m., Fox Sports Oklahoma), Young will be joined in the starting lineup by another homegrown freshman.

Harrah product Brady Manek didn’t arrive with Young’s fanfare but has already made a quick impact with the Sooners, flashing both athleticism and the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter in both OU’s trip to Australia and New Zealand over the summer and during preseason camp.

“He’s definitely surprised a lot of people,” sophomore Kameron McGusty said. “Just looking at him, you don’t think he can hoop. He’s a skinny dude, looks goofy, got a military ball fade, got the little buzz cut. Of course, you don’t think he can hoop. But he’ll dunk on you. He’ll hit a 3 in your face. He’s the real deal.”

Manek was still a highly coveted recruit, earning four stars by most recruiting services.

But the 6-foot-9 forward committed to the Sooners a little more than two years ago, stopping his recruitment before it had time to pick up too much steam.

It was a contrast to the five-star Young, who waited until February to commit and built a lengthy offer list that also included Kentucky and Kansas among other basketball blue-bloods.

Sooners coach Lon Kruger identified Manek early as a player he wanted to pursue.

He expected Manek to be able to make an impact in Norman, but thought it might take him awhile to ease into the swing of things.

“I really liked his basketball instincts and his action and ability to shoot the ball but didn’t know that he would transition as quickly,” Kruger said.

But Manek’s role was forced to increase quickly due to necessity as much as anything.

When Kristian Doolittle, who started 25 games as a freshman last year, was suspended for the first semester, there were plenty of minutes available as Manek and sophomore Matt Freeman were the most obvious choices in that spot.

Manek, to this point, has made the most of them.

“I think just buckling down and really just trying every day — trying to get better, not knowing what to expect every day, just trying to make the best of every opportunity,” Manek said of why he’s quickly earned a place in the starting lineup.

The trick, though, will be keeping that spot.

The key there could, in large part, be determined by how quickly Manek transitions on the defensive end.

“Defensively, I’ve never really had to buckle down and guard someone on the perimeter,” Manek said. “I’m learning as we go. It’s not where I want it to be, but I’m trying to improve every day.

“They’re a whole lot more athletic. They’re a whole lot faster. Most guys are a whole lot older.”

But Manek’s shot — he averaged 24.3 points per game last season at Harrah — has earned him the chance.

“He’s a very smart player, a very cerebral player,” Young said. “He can really shoot the ball. He spreads the defense out with his ability to shoot and then he can also put the ball down just a little bit to create for himself just enough space to get off a good look.”