College notes: Midview grad Jonny Manning taking the Storm by, well, storm

Jonny Manning has become the eye of the Storm. The fourth-year junior and former Midview standout is averaging 15 points and 8.1 rebounds with nine double-doubles for Lake Erie College through Sunday. He's also contributed 24 blocks, 20 steals while setting career bests in points, rebounds, blocks and free throws made. "I really worked with my coaches in the offseason and focused on specific goals," Manning said. "I had to step up in our program knowing last year I was more of a role player who had a lot of guys around me who could make things happen, but this year I knew I had to be more of a leader for my team. It was a lot of work, a lot of preparation and a lot of time both in the weight room and the gym. A lot of mental preparation knowing it's a long season and that consistency is the key." Manning arrived at Lake Erie after a decorated career with Midview, but like most big men at the college level he had to work at his consistency. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged just 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 16 appearances freshman year, but each of those numbers have steadily increased each season until a breakout 2022-23 in which he averaged 12.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, starting in 26 of 27 games. "My patience has evolved," said Manning, a marketing major with a minor in business administration. "Knowing what shots are good, what shots are bad and not getting sped up. All of that really played a role in my game. Inside in the post, I feel a lot more confident than I did when I got here. I don't have to rush stuff. And growing strength-wise helps me not get pushed around as much. I can get to my spots on the block where as a freshman and a sophomore that was hard to do." Now he's the go-to guy for the Storm (6-18, 4-11 Great Midwest), leading the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks while ranking third in assists and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range — the best clip on the team among those with at least 10 attempts. His 32 points against Ohio Dominican on Jan. 18 were a career high and his 19 rebounds that game broke his own school record. He had another career game Feb. 1 against Malone with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Manning recorded career highs in blocks with six and foul shots made, going 12-of-12 from the line. He also had two assists and one steal. "I was making shots and my teammates were feeding me," Manning said of the Malone game. "I was able to get to the line a bunch and it helps when you make those first couple of free throws to build that confidence. It just kept going from there. I got in a rhythm and that helped me out a lot." Middie reunion When Manning took the floor against Ashland on Feb. 3, he went up against former Midview teammate Aden Gregory. The redshirt freshman is having a rebound year with Ashland after missing last season with an injury. The 6-foot-5 wing is averaging about 10 minutes per game in a reserve role, but matched his season high in points with eight against Lake Erie as Ashland won 87-75. "It was awesome," said Manning, who eclipsed 1,000 career points against the Eagles. "He's a great player and he's going to be a great player in this league for years to come. They play him a lot against us because he can play just about any position. He's going to be a really good player for Ashland in the future. It was awesome to play against him and to see that type of support because our (Midview) coach Jim Brabenec came to watch us both. It's awesome to have that kind of relationship throughout college and high school." Four-peat Carter McCray (Elyria Catholic) is putting together one of the best freshman seasons in the country. The Northern Kentucky star was named Horizon League Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this year Feb. 5 after averaging 16 points, 13 rebounds and one steal for the week, including a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double against Oakland. She has 11 double-doubles on the year, including seven in the last eight games, and as Sunday led the Horizon League with 10.8 rebounds. She's third in field-goal percentage (.528) and fifth in scoring (14.5 points). Remember the Titans At 17.3 points per game through 20 games, Duquesne senior Dae Dae Grant ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10. He's also made 104 of 109 free throw attempts for 95.4 percent, which is 5.1 percent more than anyone else in the league. He recently scored 31 points while shooting 50 percent against Rhode Island on Feb. 3.Grant is one of many former Lorain standouts making an impact at the next level. Joining him are: Deonte Benejan, a freshman with Lorain County Community College, is averaging 27.3 points per game. He's scored at least 30 points in seven of his last 10 games, including bhis last three. He had back-to-back 32-point games against Allegheny County and Cuyahoga Community College and 30 against Hocking. Jamir Billings, a junior at Wooster, was named North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Athlete of the Week on Jan. 2 after averaging 15.3 points, six assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 steals during a 3-1 stretch for the Fighting Scots. Through 23 games, he leads the NCAC with 71 steals — 19 more than everyone else — and is averaging 3.2 per game. Only one other player is averaging at least two. Taevon Pierre-Louis, a sophomore with Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif., leads the team in rebounds with eight per game while adding 11.8 points per game, one of two players to average at least 10 points for the 20-4 Bulldogs. Seth Wilson, a junior at West Virginia, is averaging 18.6 minutes, 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds through 22 games with three starts. Last possession Senior Jalen Gibbs (Wellington) had a big January for Fairmont State. She was named Mountain East Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 15 after averaging 20 points and six rebounds during a 1-1 stretch for the Falcons. The 6-0 forward later joined the 1,000-point club, scoring 13 points during a 89-62 loss to Frostburg State University on Jan. 27. She's averaging 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds through 22 games, all starts. Ryan Walsh (Elyria) has appeared in 19 games with one start for Nova Southeastern University, averaging 7.3 points in 17.2 minutes per game. The point guard has dished out 35 assists in a reserve role, including a career-high five against Eckerd on Feb. 3. The Sharks are 19-2. Junior Ed Wright (Elyria Catholic) is averaging 17.8 points for MidAmerica Nazarene University and has scored at least 20 in eight of his last 10 games, including four straight. He's failed to hit double figures in just four of the 21 games he's appeared in, with 19 starts. John Carroll, which clinched the regular-season Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball title for the second straight season, on Feb. 5 became the first OAC men's basketball team to be ranked No. 1 in D3Hoops.com's Top 25 poll since Otterbein won the 2002 national championship. Connor O'Toole (Gilmour/Avon resident) has been a key reserve, appearing in 21 of the team's 23 games, averaging 7.5 minutes. The Blue Streaks are 22-1. Sophomore Abby Liber (Avon) has appeared in 25 games with one start for Youngstown State. The St. Louis transfer and 2022 Lorain County Miss. Basketball is averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds while also adding 11 steals. Junior Emily Rapacz (Elyria Catholic) has played in all 24 games with 21 starts for Ave Maria University in Florida, averaging 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds with 14 blocked shots. Pinned down Rutgers' Dylan Shawver — who as of Feb. 5 was ranked No. 13 at 133 pounds — escaped the buzzer for a decision against No. 12 Nic Bouzakis of Ohio State. The junior from Elyria entered the third period tied at 4, but broke free as time expired to secure a 5-4 decision. It was one of just three dual wins as No. 6 Ohio State defeated No. 14 Rutgers 22-12. Shawver is 18-5 overall, 11-3 in duals and 4-2 in the Big Ten. Bryce Hepner (St. Edward/Avon resident) wrestled for Ohio State at 165 against Rutgers, defeating Anthony White 5-0. At 10-3 overall and 6-3 in duals, Hepner is ranked No. 20 at 165. Sophomore Peyton Fenton (Elyria) has a 9-5 record at 125 for Ohio State. Baldwin Wallace (14-2, 7-0), ranked fifth in the nation as of Feb. 5, clinched its fourth straight OAC championship, its eighth title in the last nine seasons. Juniors Tommy West (St. Edward/Avon Lake) and Donovan Palmer (Lutheran West/North Ridgeville) each have contributed to the success. West is 26-11 primarily at 157 while Palmer is 22-15 primarily at 165. Freshman Riley Banyas (Elyria) holds a 25-10 overall record, including a 19-6 dual record for Campbellsville (Ky.). Cleveland State's Daniel Bucknavich (Midview) is ranked No. 20 at 285 as of Feb. 5. The redshirt junior is 16-2 this season and a 45-27 for his career. For additions to the college notebook, contact Chris Sweeney at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on Twitter.