Manning signs with Xavier University of Louisiana

Holmes Community College sophomore guard Jordyn Manning of Canton has signed a national letter of intent with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Xavier plays in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and is a NAIA school. XULA finished the 2021 season with a record of 13-7 including the GCAC Conference Championship with a 56-52 overtime win over Edward Waters in Jacksonville, Fla. They made it to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament in Lakeland, Fla.

Manning, who was named Second Team All-MACCC following the season, finished the season averaging 12 points per game. She had 187 points on the season. She shot 35.4 percent from the field (61-of-147), 25 percent from the three-point line (14-of-56) and 64 percent from the free throw line (48-of-75). She had 1.9 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.

As a freshman, she averaged 10.2 points per game and shot 31.7 percent from the floor and 62.1 percent from the free throw line. She averaged 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game and 1.3 steals per game.

The Lady Bulldogs made it to the Region XXIII Tournament this season and to the MACJC State Tournament last season.

"I always knew it was a really good school academic wise," Manning said of Xavier. "They started showing interest in me, and they continued to show interest and that made me go there. It's a good basketball program, too. When I went to visit the campus, I fell in love. When I met the players, I meshed with them and they made me feel like family."

Manning said she enjoyed her time at Holmes and playing with three of her classmates from Canton High School --- Jamaya Redd, Morgan Williams and Jalaceia Smith. Redd and Williams recently signed with Tougaloo and Smith has decided to concentrate on her academics at Alcorn State University next season.

"I enjoyed the players and coaches here," she said. "They always pushed me to be better. I appreciate them being on me every day. It made me a better player and a better person.

"We did what we had to do and made it to state (freshman year) and regionals this year," She said. "We all had to have the same mindset. It allowed us to get further. We wanted to win and be better than what we were. We came and worked hard every day. I'm glad I got to play with my teammates from high school. I enjoyed my two years here but it's time for us to go our separate ways and do what we have to do."

She said she feels her strengths are getting to the basket, finishing hard, playing aggressively and being vocal.

Manning said she'll miss being close to home, where she had home-cooked meals, and her friends.

"I'm extremely proud of her," Holmes Head Coach Jamilah Andrews said. "She's definitely one of the players that deserves this opportunity. She's worked extremely hard so I'm excited for her and know she's going to do very well."

"Jordyn is one of our more mature players," she said. "I never had to get onto her about class or being somewhere or doing something she was supposed to do. She has represented us well." She said she was a complete student athlete performing well in the classroom and also being involved in campus activities such as the homecoming court.

As far as ability, "I think Jordyn has all-around potential," Andrews said. "She can shoot the three, she can attack the basket, and she can rebound. I feel like those are other strengths as well as being a leader on and off the floor."