Nico Mannion makes Freshman All-American First Team

Point guard Nico Mannion became Phoenix Pinnacle's first boys basketball player to make CBS MaxPreps' first-team Freshman All-American team.

Mannion, 6-foot-1, averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals for the 22-7 Pioneers in his first season of high school varsity basketball.

Mannion is the first Arizona player to make first-team Freshman All-American since 6-foot-11 Marvin Bagley III was a freshman at Tempe Corona del Sol in 2015.

Coach Charlie Wilde said that Mannion, who figures to be one of the nation's most highly sought-after players by the time he is a senior, is committed to spending all four years of his high school career at Pinnacle and won't be lured by a national prep academy.

"Plans are for him to stay here all four years, according to him and his family," Wilde said. "Nico is extremely grounded and humble for the talents that he processes. His parents are to thank for that.

"For example, I was talking to one of his teachers yesterday and they said he was one of the nicest and most polite kids in her class. Nico is very coachable, works extremely hard and understand all fazes of the game."

Suggest human interest stories to Richard Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at azc_obert

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