Does Georgia Basketball have a point guard in Charles Mann?
Does Charles Mann get the point?
Charles Mann (6’5” 210) was the man for the Georgia basketball last season. He led the Bulldogs in minutes played (29.7) points scored (13.9/game) was third in rebounds (4.2) and first in steals (1.1).
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With 277 free-throw attempts, the second highest Georgia season total ever, Mann ranked 11th among all Division I players in free throw attempts and 21
st
among all Division I players in free throw makes.
Earning a second team SEC selection in 2014, Mann was the best player on the Georgia team.
He was also a point guard in training and has been since the summer before his junior year in high school.
Last season Mann’s assist to turnover ratio was less than 1. Coach Fox spoke to Anthony Dasher of Uga.rivals.com: “Obviously, [Mann’s] turnover ratio has to improve and that’s an area where Charles has to get better.”
At the same time, even Coach Fox knows Mann’s style is going to result in turnovers. “As aggressive as we’ve let him be and kind of let him be, he’s going to have a turnover or two.”
Georgia will not reign in Mann’s aggressive rim attack. But scoring and defending will not alone be adequate for the Bulldog’s rising junior. For Georgia to succeed this season, Mann must be more than a point guard intern. He must direct Coach Mark Fox’s offense and get the ball to his teammates in advantageous positions.
Mann understands the challenge. “I’ve just to play my game, score when needed, pass the ball, assist, get rebounds,” he said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Mann’s’ AAU Coach and high school trainer Anthony Hardnett recognized Mann’s potential as a point guard early in his development and spoke to Dan McDonald of Rivals.com during Mann’s senior year in at Milton High School. “On the court, his mind-set of knowing how to get everybody into the ball game, running the system, and the intangible of being able to score when needed or knowing when to distribute is something they are going to love about him.”
D’Joumbarey A. Moreau of HoopsHabit took note of the large strides Mann made from his freshman to sophomore year – improving his shooting from the field from 34 percent to 41 percent and his free throw shooting from 69 percent to 70 percent. Mann more than doubled his free throw attempts from 133 to 295 while playing only 8 minutes more per game (21 -30). As a result Mann doubled his scoring from 6/7 to 13.9 points per game.
While Mann is a hard worker, he should improve again simply because he will be 100% healthy for the first time since his freshman year.
Fox spoke to Anthony Dasher: “Last year prior to the season [Mann] had a procedure on his knee and he’s played with a brace all last year; stay healthy and continue to mature as a player.”
With good health and with several years of point guard internship behind him, Mann is poised to crash the All SEC first team and lead Georgia to the NCAA Tournament.
If Mann get’s the point, that is.