Can the Goat Manigault get the Fraser Valley Bandits to top of the mountain?
Kenny Manigault liked the fact Kyle Julius was unshakeable. Kyle Julius liked that Kenny Manigault could shake people and score. Their mutual respect meant the former NAIA player of the year was now a Fraser Valley Bandit, and tips off the season with them on Saturday Photo by Courtesy, Fraser Valley Bandits  Article content Kyle Julius held his implacable stoneface, wearing an expression carved in stone, as Kenny Manigault woofed at him from a few feet away. The trash talk was fierce, coloured, with language not suitable for print in a mainstream media publication. Hes the only coach that I tried to talk trash to, Manigault said, laughing. He didnt pay me any attention. He reminds of me of a sergeant in the military or something; no facial expressions. I mean, I cant really say what I said, because in the heat of the moment, you say some  things, but he just ignored me. He looked right past me like I wasnt there. Im three feet away  and hes looking straight past me. I was like Im not messing with that guy.  Not only that, he knew he wanted to play for him. Julius, the Fraser Valley Bandits general manager, was coaching the Formosa Dreamers in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) while Manigault was suiting up for the Macau Black Bears. He may have pretended not to see his trash-talking opponent, but he definitely noticed. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Manigault, a 6-foot-5 guard, was on track to be the league import MVP with his Oscar Robertson-level numbers before the coronavirus pandemic scuttled the 2019 season. The Charleston, S.C., native averaged 26.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, and even outplayed former NBA rookie of the year runner-up O.J. Mayo in their head-to-head matchup. Kenny is a special player. Coaching versus Kenny in the ABL was quite the task, said Julius. Hes an ultra versatile player who also plays with toughness and an edge. Manigault was also impressed by the Canadian coach, who took the Dreamers to the PLeague+ finals last season, and jumped at the chance to join the Bandits. He contacted me on a Friday, and I was signing and ready to go by Monday, he said, grinning. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Against Mayos Fubon Braves, Manigault hit from everywhere: Deep balls, transition buckets, floaters and analytic-defying mid-range pull-ups, and finished the game with 31 points and six rebounds. Mayo, the former NBA lottery pick, had just 12 points on 26 per cent while being harassed by Manigault on the defensive end. Julius and the Bandits think Manigault will be a key component of this years team, which tips off the Canadian Elite Basketball Season Saturday afternoon at Abbotsford Centre against the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Marek Klassen and Malcom Duvivier are the only returnees from the lunch bucket-toting Cinderella squad that made it all the way to the 2020 CEBL championship game, but have brought in both talent and championship experience. Three of them  Alex Campbell (2019 CEBL finals MVP), Ryan Ejim and Shaquille Keith  were 2019 CEBL champions with the Rattlers. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Manigaults style, court vision and work rate fit the Bandits model of play, and he integrated well with his teammates, but that blue-collar work ethic wasnt always there for the player they call Goat. NEXT GAME Saturday Fraser Valley Bandits vs. Saskatchewan Rattlers Time: 4 p.m., Abbotsford Centre. Web: CBC Gem, cbc.ca After winning four straight state championships with Pinewood high school and being named the SCISA player of the year, the talented guard joined the Wichita State Shockers on scholarship. Before I went to Wichita, I met with (head coach) Greg Marshall, the head coach at the time. He asked me in front of my whole family, Hey Kenny, do you like to work hard? And I told him straight up Nah, I didnt. And he told me like, Well, youre gonna have to work if you want play at this level,  he recalled. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content But me, being a teenager, Im like man, whatever. Im going to play regardless. I didnt play, I didnt go to classes I just wasnt a school person. He didnt work, go to class, and nor did he play much, averaging 1.6 points and 7.2 minutes. After just one year, his time with the Shockers was over. He transferred to USC Aiken, playing seven games with the Div. 2 Pacers, but again moved on, this time to NAIA school University of Pikeville. It was his version of Last Chance U. I got to Pikeville, and in my first semester, I got Deans List, said the 30-year-old. I just knew that it was my last stop. I was going to have to just start working (a real job), something I dont want to do  not yet. I just want to play basketball.  Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Share this article in your social network        Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Province Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from The Province, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! 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