Why TCU basketball's Isaiah Manning is more than just an athlete

Manning credits his father’s tutelage as a key to his mature mindset and his ability to keep perspective even when emotions can be running high.

“Our bond is irreplaceable,” Manning said. “A young black man growing up with a father in your life, not just in your life, but I would say a forefront of it is extremely important to me. His office isn’t too far down so I can go in there and play a game of chess with him. It’s nice to be able to lean on him with my adult and school life. I feel home when I’m here.”

Manning said his father was everything you want in a role model, but just like it wasn’t easy for Manning to redshirt, trying to be a father at a young age while also pursuing his own goals was also a challenge. But it was a challenge Dr. Manning took on head first with no hesitation.

“I had Isaiah when I was 20, so I went through adulthood with Isaiah by my side,” Dr. Manning said. “Having them has grounded me in particular ways. He’s been able to see me finish my undergrad degree, my master’s degree, my (doctorate). My wife is on her fourth degree right now, so the family as a unit is setting goals and reaching new heights.

“All that he’s been able to accomplish has become a part of that larger process. I always joke I feel like they didn’t have a choice with athletics because I was still young but doing the dad thing. So I said look, if I’m going to go hoop you’re going to go hoop. I like to throw so somebody has to learn how to catch.”

Manning was surrounded by so much excellence growing up that he always had a constant source of motivation and that continues now as his younger brother Jaden is a Division-I prospect in football with multiple offers from the likes of North Texas and UTEP.

When a Manning sets their mind to something, they usually get it done and now Manning is setting his sights on being a major contributor for a TCU program seeking the make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.

The road forward

It’s a Saturday at Schollmaier Arena, one of the first practices for Manning and his new batch of teammates. With a number of high school teams watching, coach Jamie Dixon runs the team through a number of high intensity drills.

Transition offense and defense, catch and shoot and defensive rotations among them. Despite recovering from a broken jaw, Manning is arguably the loudest player in the gym as he encourages his teammates or communicates with them on defense.

Manning is one of the many big wings the Horned Frogs have along with Robinson, UNC-Wilmington transfer Trazarien White, freshman forward David Punch and the 6’8 Wyoming transfer Brendan Wenzel.

While also being supportive of his colleagues and building bonds is important for Manning, he’s also on a mission to use the lessons from his redshirt year to become a key piece for TCU.

“I approach everyday as competition,” Manning said. “If I can get the wings like Wenzel or TWhite to come at me as hard as I’m going at them then that means whoever ends up starting is going to be productive at TCU.”

There are players on the wing with more experience and Robinson is one of the most decorated recruits in program history, but don’t count out Manning, whose impact could go beyond just Schollmaier Arena.

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