Personal Statement

Benjamin Manzano - Volcano Vista High School - Class of 2019

I am a 6’0 point guard from Volcano Vista High School, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I am a senior this season. I have been a guard on Volcano Vista School’s Varsity team since the ninth grade. I earned an All-District Academic team awards as a ninth grader and once again as a tenth grader.  I play basketball for my club team, D1 Nation NM, and we played in the Adidas Gauntlet Series. I also played with the New Mexico Basketball Club in the Platinum bracket. I look forward this year to a new perspective on how the basketball game works and helped me understand what my coaches are looking for when I’m on the court.  As a Volcano Vista Hawks basketball team member, we overcame adversity and diversity. We were seeded #12 going into the 2017 NMAA State Tournaments for 6AAAAAA class. We overcame tough obstacles and upset ranked #2 seed, Las Cruces Bulldogs to win the 2017 6A State Championship for Boys High School basketball, the highest competition in the state. In 2018 VVHS basketball took the District Tournament Championship and also took 1st in the overall 6AAAAAA District, earning Honorable Mention honors.

As a young player more exposure to higher level basketball skills camps and showcases will improve my basketball skills, both mentally and physically, as well as help accomplish my goal of making it to the highest level of play I can.  I love to be the first person in the gym and the last one out, often staying to help the younger players on my team improve their game and learn the work ethic required to achieve their goals individually and our goals as a team. I am looking for an academically strong school that will allow for a balance between class and court.  I would like to attend a college with strong Engineering programs. Sacrificing things for basketball is important but it is also important to me to balance basketball and my education. I’ve missed family, school, and personal events because of my dedication to basketball which has helped me get where I am now. I want to continue growing athletically. I’m also involved with our community through various functions with the basketball program and church.

As a point guard who is also capable of playing multiple positions on the court, I believe I have the potential to go far and make a strong impact on any team I have the opportunity to play for.  I am always ready to learn and am determined to get to the next level. “The sleeper of this group. Ben has made the biggest developmental jump of any player in the state. Excellent finisher, great shooter, and overall good player. Mentally tough and although he may not start every game, he is a player that 100% of the time needs to finish every game!” #4 Rank - Ben Manzano 2017 NM D1 Nation Ambassadors 2017 Player Rankings.

Highlights & Videos of Benjamin Manzano

Max Preps: https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/ben-manzano/tkkQaIdfEea-8KA2nzwbTA/videos.htm

Hudl: Junior year http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8512255/5ad56466a0231b0dc466b740

Hudl: Sophomore year https://www.hudl.com/v/27tvQr

Captain U profile: https://www.captainu.com/athletes/2168508/profile?ltoken=0748e75ab028bdc87636ee1342ddefcf&utm_source=email&utm_medium=A000-59&utm_campaign=A000-59%202019%202020%202021%20allsports

2017 US Bank State Championships: https://www.nmact.org/file/Basketball_Recaps.pdf

ProView Networks Life Sports Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCNV7aWNHI

My NCSA Profile: http://recruit-match.ncsasports.org/clientrms/athletes/3104408?

https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-basketball-recruiting/new-mexico/albuquerque/volcano-vista-high-school/ben-manzano

Be Recruited: https://new.berecruited.com/athletes/2414651

Great American Shootout Showcase Dallas, TX – Ben Manzano #40 - https://youtu.be/PRPkBDojOi8

University of California - San Diego 2018 Invitational Basketball camp in La Jolla, CA

2018 High School All-American Showcase Invitational Basketball camp in Albuquerque, NM

NM D1 Nation Showcase-2017 New Mexico D1 Ambassadors Annual Player Rankings: 2017 #4 Rank - Ben Manzano

2018 Top 120 Showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEq4aR2yfDA

NM Basketball Club Showcase- http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/proview-networks/

ScoutsFocus Elite 80 Fall Camp Invitation /Phenom 150 Elite Camp 2018

Follow Social Media: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/b_manzano_24/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/b_manzano_24

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDIbWipoFl0&t=11s

High Schools Sports Network: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/volcano-vista-high-school-albuquerque-nm

New Mexico High School Coaches Association NMHSCA - http://nmhsca.com/

Albuquerque Journal: https://www.pressreader.com/usa/albuquerque-journal/20171118/282510068862875

Albuquerque Journal:https://www.abqjournal.com/920296/sandia-upsets-cibola-as-metro-tournament-tips-off.html

https://www.nmact.org/file/Basketball_Recaps.pdf

http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_7089fd16-015d-11e7-8bac-9b508f66a0bf.html