Wichita State freshman guard Kenny Manigault transferring

[pacer55]

I got to enjoy watching Fears display his abilities in his one year here at USC-Aiken - I never did inquire why it did not work out for him at Bradley after sitting out his transfer year after coming over from Ohio U. - He was definitely a D-1 talent. It will be interesting to see how Manigualt compares. He will have three years left with USC-Aiken.

I used to catch some Bradley action in the early 90's - I lived nearby in Pekin for a couple of years.

[tornado]

pacer -- nobody knows all the story, but we heard that while Fears was awaiting eligibility after transfer, he repeatedly made an issue of how he was headed straight to the NBA, even having the Bradley crew produce a highlight video of him to promote himself...
This and other issues were reportedly enough for our staff to tell him that despite his talent, he was not viewed as a team player and could go elsewhere - which he did.

[pacer55]

Tornado - Your explanation sounds about right. While Fears was an offensive delight - he never quite put the same intensity into his defensive game. He was also somewhat jealous of the fact that he was not the main focus of the team as he had to play 2nd fiddle to two time D-II All-american and Conference player of the year Chris Commons - who transferred to the Pacers at the same time.

However Commons, Fears were the primary factors that transformed the USC-Aiken program. Pacer basketball had endured about five successive 20 loss seasons prior to their arrival. They went from worst to first and ended up with a 27-3 mark in Fears only year here.

His one and done was not as surprise and from what I can gather he has enjoyed success and had a very productive past two years playing pro ball in Europe.

[jasonpeoria911]

Didn't Fears also have some drug test issues also? Or am I thinking of someone else?

Jason

[bugregshu]

Didn't Fears also have some drug test issues also? Or am I thinking of someone else?

Jason

I didn't hear anything about that. Maybe you're thinking of Ray Brown?

[tornado]

but still things don't add up...
all the years he boasted of going to the NBA -- then only weeks in advance of his senior season in college,
he bolts with no warning to Europe to play for pro team in Kapfenberg, Austria
--not exactly a hotbed of basketball nor exactly the NBA. There are some suspicions that something happened
and Fears went with Plan B-minus...which at the time was his only alternative plan.

[pacer55]

Fears leaving after his junior year did not surprise me at all. He needed to play somewhere (even at D-II) to continue his professional aspirations. After leaving Ohio U. early after his soph year and not surfacing to play at Bradley he needed to play to make his self somewhat marketable (granted Europe is not the NBA). He got what he needed and USC-Aiken got a very talented point guard at a D-II level to help turn the program around. Win-Win for both parties.

Fears had a wife and two small children so he felt he needed to go for it after his junior year. While the announcement may have been near the start of school for his senior year - I am sure the groundwork had been put in motion - USC-A had already recruited a JC (also a D-I caliber player) point guard to replace Fears. (Javonte Clanton - played briefly at Niagara and had an offer from Colorado).

In Fears one year of playing in Austria - he directed a high school player from Kapfenburg, Austria to USC-Aiken. Kid reshirted last year but shows a lot of promise/potential at this level. So we are continuing to receive benefits from Fears one and done episode at USC-Aiken.

Also as a side note - Fears outstanding year in Austria did get him an audtion/tryout with the Miami Heat last summer (2009) , but nothing further came of it.