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OSCAR L. COMBS
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Shining Star
Kentucky Wildcat Recruit Eric Manuel Lives Up Billing, Scores 37 Points In Thoroughbred Classic
By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky recruit Eric Manuel and Marion, Ind., the nation's top-ranked high school basketball team, were supposed to be the feature attractions at the Coca-Cola Thoroughbred Classic.
Manuel lived up to his billing with 37 points as he showcased his all-around talent in a 61-56 loss to Henry Clay.
Marion, featuring Indiana signees Jay Edwards and Lyndon Jones, didn't fare any better than Manuel's Macon Southwest team. Lafayette upset the nation's top-ranked team 78-74.
"We were representing a lot of people today," said Lafayette Coach Don Harville. "This was just a great win for us and the state of Kentucky.
"This means teams in this town and in Kentucky can compete with the best in the nation."
Everyone knew Manuel could play with the nation's best. He has already been touted as the best schoolboy eager ever in a state that has produced Kenny Walker, Pervis Ellison, Dale Ellis, Derek Smith, Al Wood, Cedric Henderson and Elmore Smith.
He had 13 first-half points while playing inside but was at his best in the second half when he moved to the perimeter. He hit 15-foot jump shots, handled the basketball and literally floated in mid-air when he drove the lane.
"We had to get out of our offense to get Eric the ball," said Macon Coach Don Richardson. "I wanted people to see that he could play. He proved that. Of course, he did that a couple of years ago."
Indeed he did. As a sophomore he led his team to a state title. Last year Macon went 22-4 and reached the state semifinals.
"Eric is not flashy," said Richardson. "He's not a hot dog. He is just a great kid.
"He's the kind of player you may not notice but when the game is over he usually has his 20 points and 10 rebounds."
Looking Forward To Days At UK
At Guard Manuel Is At His Best
Manuel reminds UK assistant coach Dwane Casey of former Wildcat Ail-American Jack Givens.
"He is so easy-going just like Jack used to be," said Casey after watching Manuel hit 16 of 33 shots and grab 15 rebounds. "He never gets excited or shows emotion. He's also a great team player just like Givens. That's what will make him so successful in college."
He's also humble and made sure he told media members that his teammates deserved credit for his success even though they did little to help him.
"Normally Eric will pass and rebound better than he did today," said Richardson. "But it is hard to do that when nobody else is moving. Some of our other kids were a little in awe of this place."
Not Manuel. He looked right at home on the Rupp Arena court and UK fans could see some great performances from him during his career.
"I'm looking forward to coming to Kentucky," said Manuel. "One reason I picked UK was because of Coach (Eddie) Sutton's reputation for developing guards."
And make no mistake about it  the big guy is capable of playing guard at UK.
"He's a guard," said Richardson. "He could play either guard spot in college. If he plays any other position it would take away from his game."
And his best basketball is still to come.
"Eric knows the game so well and is so fundamentally sound that he will be even better when he gets with other great players in college," said Richardson.
After all, how many UK signees could come into Rupp Arena and put on the show Manuel did.
"I told him before the game just to relax," said Casey. "That's not easy to do, though, when people are expecting spectacular things. But I don't think anyone left here disappointed."
At least no one from Kentucky did.