Manyang’s “NBL” nickname after DP signing

When Deng Manyang was signed as a Development Player by the Adelaide 36ers, his schoolmates started throwing around nicknames.

While he hasn’t even met his new 36ers teammates, the teenager from Adelaide’s northern suburbs is one of the most exciting prospects on the local basketball circuit.

Born in a Kenyan refugee camp but of South Sudanese heritage, the 17-year-old Trinity College student was this month signed by the club after impressing at a two-day camp for young talent as well as during the NBL1 season playing for the Central District Lions.

His signing caught him off guard, but anyone who has seen his athletic dunking and shooting from the perimeter will know his immense potential.

“When I found out that they wanted to sign me, I was pretty happy, kind of shocked as well,” Manyang said from Texas before returning home after three weeks away.

“I guess I was shocked that they were going to sign a kid from Centrals, because I don't think you hear of too many kids getting signed from that club, especially kids who didn't go through the Sixers Academy, and I just thought there were a lot of good players out there they could pick.”

The 6’7” forward found out the news just before he left Adelaide for the US, where he had a short stint playing in the Pro16 junior circuit.

Hoping to catch the eye of college recruiters, he enjoyed the experience and thinks he “stacked up pretty well” against the local talent.

But with that behind him, he is now eager to help guide the Lions into the NBL1 Central finals before jumping into pre-season training with the 36ers.

“I just can’t wait to get my uniform and for it to be real, that I’m part of the Sixers,” Manyang said.

“Just to get a front row seat to seeing Montrezl Harrell and Bryce Cotton all day, it’s going to be amazing.”

The reaction at home has been big, from teammates and opponents alike, and especially from his school mates.

“When I played against Sturt, Ben Griscti said ‘we're happy to have you’, so that was great,” he smiled.

“Kids at school were just calling me “NBL”, and I was just telling them I hadn’t even played a single minute, and I was just looking forward to that experience of training and seeing how the professionals play, prepare and train.

“My goals are just to learn from the players about how to be a pro. I want to see how DJ (Vasiljevic) prepares and how he is on the court and all that stuff behind closed doors and just get as much experience as possible.

“But I’ve got to finish off school as well, so I’ll focus on schoolwork and get to training as much as I can until I’m finished.”

The third oldest of eight children (five boys and three girls), Manyang came to Australia with his family when he was just 11 months old.

Too young to remember life in the Kakuma Refugee Camp where athletes like Socceroo winger Awer Mabil and Port Adelaide AFL star Aliir Aliir were also born, Manyang credits his older brothers Magok Manyang and Manyang Manyang for guiding him into basketball around the age of 14.

In fact, he is currently playing with Magok at Central, where the younger brother is averaging 11 points and five rebounds.

 “I did have a look at school footy just for fun and to play with some mates,” he says of his childhood.

“I wasn't too bad apparently. These kids said I was pretty decent with no experience, and I was pretty happy with that.

“But I just didn’t want to get injured playing footy, so I just thought stick with basketball, and I love it.”

36ers players are due to return for pre-season training early next month ahead of their NBL26 season opener against Brisbane on Sunday 28 September.