Back in Montana, Manuel wants to once again go out on top

By Glenn Junkert
For GoGriz.com

Kendal Manuel knows from experience that life's journeys often take unexpected starts, turns, U-turns, stops, restarts… and lessons learned before you arrive at where you belong.

Today, at age 22 as he gears up for his senior season as a Montana Grizzly, the Billings, Montana, native has already – literally – been around the world. And in the process, he said, has "learned a lot."

"My life has kind of been crazy already," said Manuel, who was born in Billings.

When he was 4 years old, though, his dad – who is from Mozambique – moved Manuel and his mom and sisters to Africa, where they lived for four years. At the age of 8, Manuel moved back to America, first to Maine, then Florida, then New Orleans and then finally back to Billings.

"I got to see and experience a lot," Manuel said. "And I'm thankful for that, because it's taught me so much. I've learned to be open to different places and different worlds. I know about the struggles in Mozambique, and today I'm grateful for everything I ever get."

Upon his family's return to Billings, Manuel – who is the son of basketball-playing parents, Paulo Manuel and Kody Hert, and the older brother to basketball-playing twin sisters (TyLee and TyRaa, who now play basketball at MSU Billings) quickly established hoops notoriety at Billings Skyview High School. As a senior in 2015, Manuel led Skyview to a state AA championship, and in the process earned All-State AA MVP honors and a second straight selection to the Montana AA all-state team.

After that championship season, Manuel once again opted to pack his bags for travel. He accepted a scholarship from former Griz hoops coach Wayne Tinkle, who then was in his second year as head coach at Oregon State. After three seasons at OSU, one on injury related redshirt status, Manuel decided once again to return home to Montana, this time to play basketball for the Montana Grizzlies.

Manuel's primary reason was to move closer his Montana roots, especially his family. But let's face it, a match of Manuel with the Griz promised good chemistry.

"We knew that Kendal would come into our program with a high level of confidence," Montana head coach Travis DeCuire said. "But the real reason he came is that he wanted to be a part of a championship culture, and I think he had a real great experience with that last season."

Through just one season, Manuel got what he wanted, with the Griz winning Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament championships and playing in the NCAA tournament. The Griz also got more than they hoped from Manuel.

"I think we got more than we expected out of him," DeCuire said. "For this year, we now expect a lot more than we got last year."

Manuel was named the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year, as well as the league's sixth man of the year after averaging 8.7 points per game, with many of them coming from three-point range.

"Coming to the Griz filled every expectation I had," Manuel said. "I knew that it was a winning program and I knew that Travis was going to put me into the position to be an effective player out on the court. To be able to do that – and to win a championship and go to the NCAAs my first year back – that was huge for me."

For Manuel, the transition from Oregon State was not difficult. He was quick to note how welcoming his teammates were, making it a point to get him looks and set him up for success. The biggest adjustment came on defense.

"Specifically, I had to learn the different places to be on-court in relation to where the ball moves," Manuel noted. "Coach Trav is really big on getting into defensive alignment with where the ball is. They're little things, but they required being willing to sacrifice myself on defense, like being willing to take a charge.

"Little things play a big part here," Manuel emphasized. "You've got to be locked in for sure."

It was on offense, however, where Manuel made the biggest impact during the Grizzlies' return to the Big Dance.

Manuel knocked down 57 three-pointers, making at least two triples in 18 games. In a two-game stretch in mid-February, Manuel went a combined 11-of-13 from deep, totaling 39 points across the two wins.
His three-point shooting prowess led to a .431 shooting percentage, which ranked sixth in the Big Sky, while his .896 free-throw percentage led the league.

The postseason accolades were expected, and more could be in store this season, but Manuel brushed those awards to the side quickly.

"It was the team," Manuel said firmly. "I think that's what made us so great. Everybody was focused on winning and not individual stuff. The main thing for our success at the end of last year was that everybody was ready at all times. A lot of times, teams can get to the tournament and think, 'This is my time to shine. This is when I've got to make something happen.' But I think we succeeded at staying locked in on our team concept."

As Manuel surveys the upcoming season, he sees a hurdle-run of totally new challenges. Heralded seniors Ahmaad Rorie, Michael Oguine, Bobby Moorehead and Jamar Akoh have graduated. The only returning players with significant minutes are Manuel (19.3 minutes per game), versatile all-position anchor Sayeed Pridgett (29.6), junior guard Timmy Falls (20.1) and sophomore post Mack Anderson (8.5).

This season, eight of the 15 rostered players have never stepped onto the court as a Montana Grizzly. Two are redshirt freshmen, four are true frosh.

Manuel's response? A slight shrug.

"Obviously, we lost a lot," Manuel said. "Those guys were great players and brought a lot of leadership and did great things. But we have new guys here that will help us to get to great places and be able to accomplish winning the Big Sky again. It means that different guys will have to step up, and step up into roles that were filled by vets last year."

To accomplish that, Manuel said he spent the entire summer putting on muscle and working to toughen up his physical and mental game. Shooting. Dribbling. Body balance. Driving. More shooting.

"People know I can shoot and they're going to scout me differently," Manuel said. "The main thing I made sure to work hard on was to make sure my release was quicker, and being able get a contested shot in heavy traffic with the defender's hand in my face."

There is no question that Manuel can be one of those players who steps up and elevates his game to another level.

"Kendal's a leader," DeCuire said. "He does a lot by example, but he's vocal at the right times and says all the right things.

"I want Kendal to be going to the basket, there's no question about that. But he's going to have to be one of our best defenders, as well. That's going to take a lot of energy, a lot of legs. I expect him to be one of the guys that's going to play a lot of minutes."

Pridgett expressed confidence in his fellow senior, as well.

"Honestly, Kendal is the glue for us right now," the first-team all-conference selection said. "Kendal, as the other senior, plays a big role with me in leadership. He's been great for me as a person I can take criticism from. And we work together making sure we're always on our A game first, and then to help the young guys out and keep them on track."

To Manuel, the challenge is clear. The Griz must approach another daunting preseason schedule as a test. Everything they do through the first two months of the season is to set them up for success in Big Sky play.

"That means we're executing the system that Coach Trav wants from us," Manuel said. "It might or might not always work for us…

"But, those games are to set us up for conference, and that means the main goal is to develop our young guys and make sure that, come conference, they're ready to go."

Manuel doesn't care much for personal accolades or personal goals.

"But if I had to pick one goal, it would be for us as a team to fill the roles that the coaches want us to step up into," he said. "My goals for this year are to make sure I'm doing what the coaches are asking for."

In many ways, Manuel's travels as a basketball player – from Montana to Oregon, to playing with the Mozambique National Team at the FIBA World Cup qualifier in June 2018, and back to Montana – were realized during last year's championship season.

Now, he's happy to be in a place that is close to home and his family.

"My family will get a lot of chances to watch me this year, for sure," said Kendal. "Especially my grandpa, Tim Hert, who lives in Spokane and is one of the biggest influences in my life. They are the big reasons for my wanting to come back home to Montana."

University of Montana Athletics

Back in Montana, Manuel wants to once again go out on top

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Players Mentioned

Jamar Akoh

Mack Anderson

Timmy Falls

Kendal Manuel

Bobby Moorehead

Michael Oguine

Sayeed Pridgett

Ahmaad Rorie

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