Manek Takes Part in NCAA Elite Symposium

NORMAN – Oklahoma junior Brady Manek was one of 16 NCAA Division I men's basketball student-athletes to take part in the NCAA Elite Basketball Symposium earlier this month in Indianapolis. The Symposium was created to provide high-profile college basketball athletes with information and networks to help them make decisions and understand issues surrounding a professional career in the sport.

The program identifies and invites student-athletes who have a high probability of being drafted into the NBA or signing an overseas contract, yet still have collegiate eligibility remaining for the upcoming season. Manek was the only Big 12 athlete who attended the event.

"Coach Kruger and Coach Shep came to me and asked me if I wanted to do it and I said yes," said Manek when explaining his invitation to participate. "I had gone into it with it being a broad topic to me, I really didn't know what was going to happen but I think I got a lot out of it. Just about later in life and trying to find the right people and trying to put myself around the best people possible".

Manek and his fellow attendees were educated on topics such as agents, finances, NBA operations, social media and draft preparation. Presenters at the event included NBA scouts, former NBA and NCAA players and CBS analyst Clark Kellogg.

"It was really cool, a lot of big name guys were there," said Manek. "Greg Anthony talked to us, Ralph Sampson and Coach Kevin Eastman. There was a lot of stuff about being a college basketball player and how you should approach the game, how you should approach practices. Just don't be the guy who regrets anything and be the best player you can be".

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Brady Manek meets with Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson at the NCAA Elite Basketball Symposium.

The weekend was also interactive and included mock interviews with former NBA scouts and front office personnel. Manek found this portion to be especially helpful, both in practice and learning tips from the presenters.

"I would say to be yourself when you're in an interviews," said Manek. "If I get the chance to interview with any professional teams, just be myself and don't hold anything back. Try to be the best player that I can, the best person I can on and off the court and just keep working hard. Even harder than I'm working now".

A 2019 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, Manek is starting his junior season at Oklahoma. He is coming off a sophomore campaign where he started in all 34 games and averaged 12.2 points (second on the team) and 5.9 rebounds (third) while shooting .469 from the field and .358 from behind the arc.

With 741 career points to his name, Manek is just the 10th player in OU history to reach 700 career points by the end of a sophomore season.

He is one of only three returning Big 12 players who averaged over 12 points and five boards in 2018-19.