John Manning was a block-first, high-effort Saint Louis center with real rim protection value
In the 2014-15 season, John Manning’s calling card was defense and toughness: he led Saint Louis with 23 blocked shots, started 21 of 28 games, and gave the Billikens a physical, senior presence in the middle. The big differentiator was his shot-blocking timing and willingness to do the dirty work, not flashy scoring. For a team needing interior resistance, rebounding help, and a dependable rim anchor, Manning fit the bill; for pure offensive creation, he was more support piece than centerpiece.
