Take A Bow

His time on the dance floor…..er…..prep bball court may be over, but I would like to personally give Birmingham Brother Rice's Kevonte Martin-Manley a "written standing ovation" for his outstanding high school athletic career. Take a bow, Kevonte, you deserve it!

Losing to Clarkston in the regional semi's on Monday ended the Warriors and KMM's hoop season. Don't worry though Warriors fans, you can catch your boy, 'Tay, on TV the next four years when he's doing his thang in the Big Ten.

A couple things I want to say about this high-quality individual:

First off, besides being an unbelievable playmaker of an athlete, Martin-Manley is a true gentlemen both on and off the field of competition. Whether it was in football or hoops, this young man did the Warriors Orange and Black proud whenever he put on a Brother Rice uniform. Head coach Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes football program are getting one heck of a player the second KMM steps foot on campus and puts on his pads this upcoming fall. Whoever replaces Todd Lickliter as the Hawkeyes head bball coach should take Burney's advice and let this kid walk-on your team. Trust me, he can help you. My main man, 'Tay is almost as good of a hoopster than he is a wide receiver and return man on the gridiron. I'm talking shooting range and a silky stroke that rivals almost any player currently suiting up in the Big Ten right now.

And on the football field, make no mistake, Ferentz and his staff did the right thing by deciding at the last moment to bring KMM into the fold and offer him a scholarship late in the recruiting game. His back-to-back excellent seasons in 2008 and 2009 for head coach Al Fracassa's Warriors were the kind of campaigns both coaches and kids dream about. Making big play after big play, KMM was one of the primary reasons Rice was in the mix for the state championship both years.

This past regular season in hoops, Martin Manley was the best individual player in the Catholic League. Going out of his mind in the districts – 29 points in a second round upset of district favorite Birmingham Seaholm –, he helped lead the Warriors to their first basketball district title since 1998. I also think it would be fair to say KMM was the best two-sport athlete in the state this year, regardless of class. That's a big league statement and I will more than stand behind it – mostly 'cause I know my future Hawkeye homeboy has my back and can back it up! Anyway, it was a joy covering you in both sports KMM and Burney wishes you all the luck in the world abusing trash-talking DB's and special teamers in the Big Ten and taking it to the house as both a wide out and a top notch return man.