Manny Vega’s perseverance leads to new opportunity

Manny Vega starts each summer morning thinking about improvement. Looking up different basketball drills on Youtube and trying new weighted vest workouts at local parks have become his daily routine. It’s June 13, just past 12:00 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio as Vega is getting ready to leave his house for a workout with his friend Rob. This time, it’s at Nike Park in nearby Parma.

This day was different. He woke up to a direct message on Instagram from Ian Cunningham— the co-founder and coordinator of a local basketball showcase in Northeast Ohio called The Kenny Anderson Showcase— asking:

How serious are you about pursuing college basketball?

Vega, starstruck after re-reading the message, replied confidently; very ready.

He rushed out of his friend’s house to make the phone call in his car. He wanted no distractions. During the call, he shared his story upon finding out there was an open roster spot. Vega was candid. Specific. Confident.

Cunningham, taken back from Vega’s experiences on and off the court, rewarded him with the final roster spot in the showcase– something that helped Vega discover a new beginning. 

Manny Vega has always remained persistent. After graduating from Bard Early College High School in 2018, he continued his playing career at Ohio State University at Mansfield.

But, six months into the season, Vega’s phone rang; it was his mother Darline Zayas. The call was urgent, sharing news that his grandmother—Ivette Mendoza— had three tumors in her neck that were progressively getting worse with each passing day.

The news shifted his focus. She didn’t want to leave the house. She was seldom hungry. It didn’t take Vega long to return home to Cleveland following that conversation. He was speechless. Downcast. 

“Family has always been really important to me and I strive myself in always being a family person,” Vega said. “So hearing that was scary, it really pushed me away from the whole school.”

Despite leaving school, Vega’s drive for making an impact on his family never changed. To try and help pay for some of the surgery costs, he picked up two jobs—one as a janitor and one at Finish Line while taking classes at Cuyahoga Community College. 

By summertime last year, updates were consistent in Mendoza’s health coming back together. Vega began to think about playing college basketball again. He missed the game. The thrill of competing never let up.

He decided to have a conversation at the hospital with his family, hearing all possibilities with his grandmother feeling better. 

The health of his family was the most important thing on Vega’s mind, reiterating that if she wasn’t feeling well, he wouldn’t leave her side. Mendoza always advocated the importance of a college degree and after hearing that, going back to college was the easy answer. 

“My grandma always wanted to see me do something I love since she’s seen it in me when I was seven years old,” he said. “She always said that I’d be the one to start the trend.”

Emails were then sent out to colleges throughout the state, looking for a chance, an opportunity to make an impact. As weeks went by, Vega came across a post on Instagram about The Kenny Anderson Showcase. It was posted from a friend, Tavari World–a 2020 senior at Bard Early College High School.

Without hesitation, he messaged The Kenny Anderson Showcase Instagram account, run by Cunningham, explaining his playing career. He was told it was an invite-only camp and that he’ll be the first person contacted if somebody were to drop out.

There were originally over 140 high school and post-grad players to choose from. The final roster was then cut down to 52 for the event, with Vega being the last player added two weeks prior to the event after the phone call with Cunningham June 13. 

“Being put in the showcase was one of the biggest blessings I’ve received,” Vega explained. “Ian trusted in me and believed in my story. Out of the kindness in his heart, he really believed this 6-foot-2 kid from Cleveland to come down to the showcase and kill. It was just amazing.”

The showcase is designed to give athletes an opportunity to compete for a scholarship in front of college and post-grad coaches. Former NBA players Kenny Anderson and William Henry “Smush” Parker were at the event helping run the showcase along with sharing their personal stories to connect with the players.

One of the slew of NAIA, Division III and NJCAA coaches in attendance was Ryan Miley, head coach at Hocking College. Miley previously coached at Ohio State Mansfield from 2016-2018, even recruiting Vega before leaving for Hocking College during the summer of his incoming freshman season.

Vega first noticed Miley before the skills and drills competition portion of the showcase. The two of them briefly caught up at the time. However, once the drills concluded, Miley saw something from Vega. That’s when he walked over, asking if he was still serious about playing college basketball again.

Vega explained he was still looking for a place to call home. Moments later, he found that place after Miley offered him a scholarship on the spot.

“I gave him the opportunity to come to Hocking with us since we never got the chance for things to work out at Ohio State Mansfield,” Miley said. “Manny is a humble kid with an extremely high motor. He does whatever the team needs to win and it doesn’t take him long to find a role and excel in that role.”

This was a special, surreal moment for Vega, he later explained. All he needed was an opportunity to prove he belongs and Cunningham delivered that to him after hearing his story.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” Cunningham said. “That was the last kid I added. Whoever is meant to be there will be there.

“That is the reason for this showcase,” he continued. “It’s for kids that need it, that don’t have the opportunities the same way as others.”

With his commitment out of the way, Vega believes there’s no time to be indolent. There is always room for improvement. He pushes himself to new limits during each workout because he believes he’s built for it. It’s going to prepare him for the competition at the next level.

“I don’t expect this to be an easy transition at all,” he said. “I’m not saying I’m a college-ready player but I’m going to work for it. I’ve felt like I haven’t met my goal or peak potential yet so I’m just working.”

Every day since his signing with Hocking College, Vega wakes up at 7:00 a.m to go workout at Edgewater or John Marshall High School. He can’t remember the last time he’s taken a day off. 

But he does remember the 40-minute drives to find an open court to get shots up. He remembers working out 3-4 times per day, something he’s never been so determined to do. This is the mentality that’s instilled in him. It’s only going to motivate him more with family being able to watch him play again.

“I just want an opportunity to make it in this junior college,” Vega explained. “I’m not the tallest guy. I’m not the fastest guy, but I feel like if I show them my work ethic, nobody is going to beat me. 

“All I’m doing right now is making sure to get in all the work and just to get to Hocking and make everybody proud,” he continued. “I don’t want to make this another waste of time. A lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulder after signing to play at Hocking College. It’s crazy.”