Nico Mannion, Son Of Former Ute, Jazzman Declares For NBA Draft

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Nico Mannion, the son of former University of Utah and Utah Jazz guard Pace Mannion declared for the NBA draft after just one season at the University of Arizona, foregoing the final three seasons of his college career.

Mannion, 19, is expected to be a first-round draft pick and will likely keep his name in the draft rather than simply testing the waters as an underclassman.

The freshman guard averaged 14 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds for the Wildcats, but shot just 39 percent from the floor and 32 percent from the three-point line in 32 games. Mannion was named to the All-PAC-12 Second Team after the college basketball season was sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic.

time to chase a dream.. pic.twitter.com/ff9HksJ8Up

— niccolo (@niccolomannion) April 7, 2020

Mannion’s father Pace spent four seasons at the University of Utah, averaging 13.9 points per game as a senior before getting drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 19th pick in the second-round of the NBA draft.

The elder Mannion would play one year with Golden State before signing with the Jazz in 1984 where he would play for two seasons before finishing his career with the New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks before moving on to play professionally in Italy.

In total, Mannion played six seasons in the NBA averaging 3.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

Out of high school, Nico was the top-rated prep point guard prospect and number nine overall prospect before committing to play at Arizona. Mannion held offers from every major program in the country, including the University of Utah before playing for the Wildcats.

Mannion scored 11 points, handed out five assists and snared three rebounds in his Arizona’s 93-77 victory over the Utes, his lone career matchup with his father’s alma mater.

6-3 + 19 y/o Nico Mannion's bball IQ, deep range + passing creativity should make for a seamless transition to the modern @nba game. He has good size for a PG prospect at 6’3 + will likely continue to add bulk. Here are some highlights from his 19 PTS, 6 ASTS vs. #UCLA on 2/29/20 pic.twitter.com/lmpmPZvrar

— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) April 7, 2020

The 2020 draft is heavy with point guards which could cause Mannion’s draft stock to vary as the yet unknown draft day approaches. As many as 10 point guards could be drafted in the first round of this summer’s draft.