News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Breaking News

Sports

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
June 14, 2011

Arop chooses ISU men's basketball

Ex-Gonzaga player is Sycamore wing of future

Todd Golden The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Mangisto “Manny” Arop has spent much of his life searching. Or perhaps more accurately, life has forced him and his family to do so.

From war-torn Sudan to Kenya to Canada, Arop’s family has always tried to look to make their lives better.

Arop’s collegiate basketball career is following a similar arc. A top 100 recruit out of high school in Canada, Arop committed to Gonzaga and played two years for the highly-touted Bulldog program.

But playing time became scant as the 2011 season progressed, so Arop went on the hunt again.

This time, his life’s search has taken him to Terre Haute. And he hopes he’s found a collegiate home.

The 6-foot-6 Arop signed a Letter Of Intent to play men’s basketball for the Sycamores. He will be on the 2011-12 roster, but due to NCAA transfer rules, Arop won’t suit up for the Sycamores until the 2012-13 season.

It’s a wait he’s willing to make because he liked what he saw when he made a visit to ISU in May. Arop took a month to make his decision. He narrowed his choices to ISU and Valparaiso, but ISU was his choice.

“I think ISU has an endless list of things I like, but there’s two main reasons why I chose it,” said Arop in a phone interview on Tuesday.

“First, it’s a great basketball opportunity. We have a great coach and I have great teammates. The second part is academics. ISU has my major [Sports Management] and I can transfer easily into their program,” Arop explained.

ISU coach Greg Lansing is excited about the basketball potential Arop brings to the table. A member of the Canadian National Team, Arop certainly has credentials to be excited about. He’s a swingman who can play shooting guard and both forward spots.

“This is a really good get for us. There’s going to be a lot of minutes for him when he becomes eligible once Dwayne [Lathan] and Carl [Richard] graduate,” Lansing said. “He can do everything. He can score off the dribble and from the outside, but the nice thing is that he’s a big guard who can post up and score. He’s also a tremendous rebounder.”

Arop’s journey to North America started when his mother was determined not to raise her family in war-torn Sudan. Leaving Sudan with his mother and some of his siblings, Arop’s family settled in Kenya, but Arop’s family’s ultimate goal was North America.

Granted Canadian citizenship in 1990, Arop’s family settled in Hamilton, Ontario. It was there that he became recognized as an elite athlete, excelling in both football and basketball.

But basketball became Arop’s sole sport when Canada’s National Elite Development Academy came calling. He set the single-game scoring record with 42 points in an Academy game and was chosen to play for Canada in the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina in 2008. He averaged 17 points and 10.2 rebounds during the tournament.

Arop will try out for the Canadian team again in August. He currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta.

“It’s something I want to keep doing. I’ll go down there and see what I can do,” Arop said.

Arop was a four-star recruit coming out of Hamilton and he committed to Gonzaga in 2008. He averaged 4.5 points as a freshman with the Bulldogs in 2010.

Arop averaged 3.4 points for the Bulldogs in 2011, including a 16-point game against Notre Dame on Dec. 11 and a 15-point effort against Marquette on Nov. 23. But Arop’s minutes came down as Marquise Carter came into favor for Gonzaga during the Bulldogs’ West Coast Conference campaign.

Arop requested and was granted his release by Gonzaga coach Mark Few in April.

“The best thing about it is he has time to get better and get comfortable. He’s got a whole year to get used to his teammates,” Lansing said.

Arop’s journey takes him to the U.S. Midwest for the first time. But Arop is looking forward to it.

“I’ve been moving my whole life. I think basketball can take me anywhere and I’ll be comfortable,” Arop said.

Arop will use the scholarship intended for Khristian Smith, who is currently a non-qualifier. Smith still intends to play basketball at ISU and is still trying to change his academic status. He is enrolled for the 2011-12 academic year, but can only have limited contact with the team and cannot practice or play until he is in good academic standing per NCAA regulations.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Sports
SPT0511613track keller.jpg

Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Farthest: Terre Haute South's Nick Keller competes in the discus.

Local Interest
High School
College
SPT0511613manaea4.jpg

Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Starter: Sean Manaea started on the mound for Indiana State to start their last MVC series of the year.

  • Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley

    Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
    First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard

    Indiana State coach Teri Moren believes the addition of five more newcomers to the program — in addition to the five who had already joined the program earlier this calendar year — will provide her coaching staff the athleticism and depth it needs to play a successful, up-tempo brand of basketball next season.

    May 17, 2013

  • Metro roundup: Woods softball takes seventh in national tournament

    The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball team finished seventh in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association softball tournament on Tuesday at Firestone Stadium.

    May 15, 2013

  • Metro Roundup: Indiana State’s Shakir Bell on Performance Awards watch list

    College Football Performance Awards has announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA FCS Running Back Award, and Indiana State’s Shakir Bell earned a spot on the list.

    May 14, 2013

  • ISU baseball team builds on success with 14-2 rout

    Indiana State’s baseball victory over Alcorn State on Friday would take on more meaning Saturday if the Sycamores could build momentum and pick up on the good work they did in Friday’s ninth-inning rally.
    Mission accomplished.
    The Sycamores were aggressive from the opening inning at the plate and starting pitcher Devin Moore gave them eight valuable and effective innings on the mound as ISU defeated Alcorn State 14-2 at Bob Warn Field.
    “It was a really good experience for everybody. It felt great to finally come out here and put some things together. It’s also really nice when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board,” Moore said.
    Moore’s eight innings of work were as valuable as gold to an ISU team that is short on quality arms due to injury and ineffectiveness. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and one of the two runs he conceded was unearned.

    May 12, 2013

Sports Columns
Pro Sports
Terre Haute Rex
SPT 071512 DORSETT FILE.jpg

Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)

Colts
Auto Racing
Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Front page
AP Video
Three and Out: Knick's Bench Loud Mouths: Venting Machine Does Orb have a legit shot at the Triple Crown? Stuart: You gotta move on and win your home games Green: 'Winning is a mentality; we are not satisfied' UW Women's Golf team ready to shoot for more NCAA history Bogut: 'It was a roller-coaster of a season for me' Pavelski on 0-2 hole: 'We gotta put it behind us and move on' Curry on Jack & Landry: 'I want them back' Thompson: 'We've got all the right pieces to win a championship' Video: Blackhawks' Bickell on Game 2 approach Barnes: I want to improve by post game and ball-handling Curry: I don't look like the typical NBA player; I look 18 Baseball player returns $500 thousand overpayment to team Peter King's OTA watch Is help really on the way for the Yankees? Lacob: 'I'm happy we could give the fans a good product' Ratto: Spurs know how to close out a series Landon Donovan One-on-one Vlasic: 'We should have won that game'
NDN Video
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes Raw: Marines Come to Obama's Aid in the Rain CUTE: Monkey shares lollipop with dog, then HITS pooch on head with it Miranda Kerr Looks Sexy in a Bikini Photo Shoot Hatchet-wielding viral video star, once a hero, now a murder suspect
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity