Kenny Manigault is a 6-foot-4 freshman guard from Charleston, S.C. Wichita State fans got an early look at his skills when Pinewood (S.C.) Prep played on Oak Hill (Va.) Academy on ESPNU in April. He is quick and athletic and unselfish as a point guard. He did not look out of place against one of the nation’s best collections of talent.
Q: When friends back home ask about Kansas, how do you describe it?
A: It’s different from Charleston. Everybody around here is nice. You don’t get that back in Charleston. If you walk by somebody, they say ‘Hi, how are you doing.’ In Charleston, they don’t do that. The weather’s been just like Charleston, with the heat and everything.
Q: Which returning Shockers makes the biggest impression on you?
A: David Kyles and Toure Murry. DK, he can pretty score on anybody who guards him. He can shoot. Toure plays probably the best defense on the team.
Q: Give us a one sentence scouting report on fellow freshmen Tyler Richardson and Jerome Hamilton.
A: Tyler, he’s a good back-to-the basket player. Jerome, he’s a pretty good post player. He can finish with a dunk every time he catches the ball.
Q: Kobe or LeBron?
A: LeBron. He goes for a triple-double every night.
Tyler Richardson is a 6-foot-4 freshman guard from Huntsville, Ala. One of his jobs at Wichita State will be to shoot (and make) jumpers, a skill the Shockers lacked last season. Richardson looks suited to that role. His shooting form appears smooth and solid and his touch is soft.
Q: What did you think when you first saw a picture of Wu-Shock, the WSU mascot?
A: I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was a little man with wheat sticking out of its head.
Q: Which returning Shockers makes the biggest impression on you?
A: David Kyles, he’s my roommate right now. He’s been telling me you’ve got to get better through hard work. He said just do what you do best. If you’re a scorer, go score. He told me whatever my strengths were, keeping working at it and become better.
Q: If you were not at WSU playing basketball, where would you be?
A: I would probably be at UTEP. WSU had more of a home feeling. Friendliest people I ever met in my life. Coach Marshall and Coach Grant and the coach staff, they brought me in and I had a blast on my visit. I just love it here in Wichita.
Q: Kobe or LeBron?
A: LeBron, I’ve got to go with LeBron. I like his all-around game. People say he has no jumper, but he can hit the jumper and if he gets close enough, he just takes it to the rack. He’s so strong and big and athletic.
Jerome Hamilton is a 6-foot-7 freshman forward at Wichita State. He is from Sylvester, Ga. He played cornerback in high school, which must have been a scary sight for tiny high school receivers. On the basketball court, Hamilton is a bouncy inside player who likes to dunk.
Q: What did you think when you first saw a picture of Wu-Shock, the WSU mascot?
A: I had no clue. It’s kind of weird.
Q: If you were not at WSU playing basketball, where would you be?
A: Probably playing football somewhere. Georgia Tech, they showed a lot of interest. I have more passion for (basketball) and I didn’t want to give it up.
Q: Kobe or LeBron?
A: I’m a big LeBron fan. I like Kobe. He’s one of my favorite type of players – he’s big, strong, quick, tall.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
June 10, 1989
The game: WSU 5, Texas 3
The skinny: Pitcher Greg Brummett holds the Longhorns to six hits to wrap up College World Series MVP honors. Pat Meares homers to give the Shockers a 5-2 lead in the sixth inning.
The quote: “Anything less than a national championship would have been a disappointment. There’s not a team that works harder or a team with more heart.” WSU catcher Eric Wedge.
WSU’s record: 68-16
Big picture: WSU wins its first NCAA team title.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
June 9, 1989
The game: WSU 12,Florida State 9
The skinny: Mike Wentworth ties the game 4-all with a three-run home run – on his mother’s birthday. In the regional, he homered on his father’s birthday. Pat Meares continued his hot hitting with three hits, including a homer.
The quote: “It’s hard to keep from feeling this is a team of destiny based on all the adversity we’ve come up against,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson.
WSU’s record: 67-16
Big picture: WSU faces Texas for the national title. It is the second appearance in the title game for the Shockers, who lost to Miami in 1982.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
June 7, 1989
The game: WSU 7, Florida State 4
The skinny: The Shockers break a 3-all tie with four runs in the eighth inning. Eric Wedge gets the rally started with a hit following a 56-minute rain delay.
The quote: “We ought to get more respect than we do. We’re in the Midwest and so we don’t play all the California and Florida teams that get all the publicity,” WSU catcher Eric Wedge
WSU’s record: 66-16
Big picture: WSU faces Florida State again to determine one spot in the title game.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
June 6, 1989
The game: WSU 8, Arkansas 4
The skinny: Eric Wedge and Mike McDonald homer for WSU, which eliminates the Razorbacks. Pitcher Greg Brummett improves to 17-2.
The quote: “The whole thing I tried to concentrate on once the season was over was that going into postseason play was like a whole new season. I struggled a little bit in the regular season, but I told myself that it was over, so I can start a whole new season,” WSU shortstop Pat Meares, who is hitting .455 in the CWS.
WSU’s record: 65-16
Big picture: WSU must defeat Florida State twice to reach the national championship game.