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New Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie is confident American Brady Manek will be a hit at the NBL club.
The Perth Wildcats have finalised their roster for the forthcoming NBL season with the signing of American college star Brady Manek.
The 23-year-old sharpshooter recently represented the Charlotte Hornets at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 14 minutes for 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds through five games.
At 206cm and 105kg, Manek is versatile with elite shot-making ability around the perimeter.
His signing comes less than a week after new Wildcats coach John Rillie signed 203cm American TaShawn Thomas.
The Wildcats were also able to retain rising star Luke Travers, who has been loaned back to the club for this season after being snared by the Cleveland Cavaliers with pick No.56 in the NBA draft.
New Zealand's Corey Webster is also a new signing at the Wildcats, who last season missed the finals for the first time in 35 years.
Manek and Thomas replace last season's imports Vic Law and Michael Frazier II.
Australian trio Kevin White, Matt Hodgson and Jack Purchase were not offered new contracts.
Manek spent four seasons at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to the University of North Carolina, where he played an essential role in UNC's run to the 2022 NCAA championship game.
He averaged 15.1 points per game and scored more than 40 per cent from behind the arc for the Tar Heels.
"I think I've done a lot in my basketball career, and now for my professional career I'm excited to take my first step with Perth, and I'm really glad they're going to take a chance on me and help me grow," Manek said in a statement issued by the Wildcats.
"I think I can be more than just a shooter, I can be a guy who plays well with others, a guy who works hard, someone who tries to bring the best out of his team. I always try to be a good teammate, and I want to win."
Rillie, who replaced Scott Morrison as coach when the Canadian returned home for family reasons, is excited at what Manek will bring.
"Everyone is going to talk about his shooting, but I also think his passing, decision making and just being a good teammate are also things people are going to love," Rillie said.
"He's a passionate competitor so I think the fans will embrace the enthusiasm that he plays the game with."
