Former Simon Fraser University student athlete David Manshreck has committed to the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s basketball program for the upcoming 2013-14 season. The 6-foot-4 Manshreck is a versatile player that will see floor time on the perimeter for and at the power forward position for an undersized Heat team heading into a third Canada West campaign.
Manshreck will look to bring a lot of interior strength to UBC Okanagan, helping a team that already rebounds well for its size; he averaged over ten rebounds per game during his senior year at Windsor Secondary (North Vancouver). Not just a grinder, Manshreck can also score—he averaged over 27 points per game in high school and once went for 50 with 25 rebounds against Howe Sound. Highly recruited as a high school senior, he chose to red shirt this past year with the Clansmen in preparation for his university athletic career.
Heat head coach Pete Guarasci will be excited to add another savvy, undersized rebounder to a squad that does a commendable job of rebounding by committee. Though lacking that interior presence on the glass, the team can often break even or even outrebound its opponent by exercising solid box outs by the bigs while everyone else finds position to rebound.
“I was really impressed with David,” says Guarasci, “he came up for a workout session this spring and instinctively he knew what to do. He has a great feel for how to play the game and will have no problem finding a role on this team. I see Manshreck creating all kinds mismatches for opponents and will allow this team to be creative in our lineup combinations.”
A previous four-time member of a BC Provincial Team, Manshreck says that he believes one of his “biggest strengths is (his) versatility.” After becoming a gym rat and working his way to a lean but strong 210 pounds, he will hope to add strength to a front line that will have to battle against the formidable frontlines dotting the Canada West competition. “I have the skill to play as wing but also have the strength and physicality to play some power forward,” he said.
“He is versatile and we will utilize that with this Heat team,” added coach Guarasci, “but David is more athletic than some people think, plus he can shoot the ball from range effectively. I think he has a chance to put some points on the board for us this season.”
Manshreck intends to enroll in the Bachelor of Arts program when he begins his studies at UBC’s Okanagan campus in the fall.
Manshreck is the second 6-foot-4 versatile wing to commit to Guarasci’s Heat program as he joins Kelowna’s high school athlete of the year, Ryan Linttell, with the team this fall. The third confirmed new member of the squad is post Mike Zayonc, a 6-foot-5 college transfer from Capilano University.
