There is much to be excited about this time of year, and possibly no player has more to be amped up about than Maniya Custis. The talented floor general was selected an All State player as a junior in 2019. .Thedribbledrop & NJHoopRecruit are honored to introduce Maniya as one of our diarists in 2020. Check back throughout the season as Maniya gives us an insider look at the life of a star student athlete playing basketball on the highest level in New Jersey.
As told to Christian Mordi / TheDribbleDrop on Instagram and Twitter
Hello everyone! My name is Maniya and I am a guard for Trenton Catholic. I will be checking in with you guys to share my journey throughout my senior season!
This year we beat Stuart Day for the county Championship. My first year of high school, I went to a different school and we didn’t have a county event like this. When I came to TCA, it was a different experience. In my first year we beat Pennington. This year, we had a different challenge. We knew it would be tough and we had to go through one of my former teammates. All in all, winning back to back meant a lot to me.
After that, the state playoffs began. Our final game in the sectional chip was against Rutgers Prep. When we faced them earlier in the year, both teams held back a lot. We knew they pressed a lot and the first time we played they did none of that. We knew the pressure was coming and more. In the beginning, it threw us off a bit. We also were missing a big piece to our team as Jasmin Boyd was out due to a concussion. She is a big piece to what we do.
The whole game was intense and back and forth. I don’t think we played our best in the first half. In the end, the coach called a timeout and we talked. We had like three minutes left and I knew we all had to step up. Zoe had a couple big plays at the end of the game. The block in the last minute was big and we were able to walk away with the sectional chip.
I found out today that I was County player of the year. This was my second time getting it. This was a big award for me. I work very hard and getting that accolade means a lot. To be respected that much by my teammates, writers and other coaches means a lot to me.
Playing point guard at TCA has been demanding, but I wouldn’t rather have been anywhere else. It took a lot of sacrifice, especially this year as I had to focus a lot on facilitating. I had to be more of a pure point guard this year. It was a hard job to do but I gave it my all this year.
The ending of the season was tough. We were undefeated in state play. In my opinion, if all the games were played, I felt like we had what it took to win a state championship. I felt like anyone who watched us play would see why we were a hard team to beat. We have a lot of weapons. We can play any style, any speed. We have numerous players who can create a basket one on one. We had good guard play and one of the hardest bigs to guard in the state. We also can lock up on defense.
I also found out today that I made First team all-state. It was tough to find out that I wasn’t selected as New Jersey Player of the Year, but it wasn’t my call to make. I think if all the games were played, maybe people would have seen it differently. I think the stage would’ve shown it. I think I play the best when it matters most. Not to speak upon anyone else, but I work very hard to prepare myself for those types of moments. I think when people learn more about me, the transition from my old school to TCA, the jump my game took from sophomore to junior year and then a bigger jump junior to senior year. I think the impact on the program was there, but I’m happy to be selected First Team All-State as well.
Looking back, I have very few regrets at the end. I wish we could’ve finished the season, but that was out of my control. Personally, in the beginning when I was a freshman if I could go back I would’ve pushed myself harder. With that being said, I wouldn’t change much, because things happening the way it did got me to where I am today. The adversity hit, but I didn’t fall. I faced it head on. I used those moments to build me up. It made me stronger. Adversity put me in uncomfortable spots, but I’ve learned now how to make the uncomfortable, comfortable. I have learned a lot and I will take those experiences with me to UCF.
To the rest of the underclassman at TCA, I leave you with this one piece of advice: Stay hungry. Never lose that drive to get better. Never get comfortable. Don’t let the high praise from people get to your head. Never forget that there is someone out there working. Don’t let them ever outwork you.
Til’ Next Time’
Maniya