Area teams give Burley basketball player with Down syndrome an opportunity to shine

BURLEY (KMVT/KSVT) — It’s not often you see a basketball player pass the ball to an opponent on purpose, but that’s the Logan Manning effect.

“It’s about making great memories. He’ll remember that. It was such an amazing experience for everyone, even on the other team,” explained Sam Patterson, an eighth-grader on the O’Leary Middle School basketball team. “I was having fun. That was one of the highlights of the game.”

“When they give him the ball, I know we might be losing the game, but it’s just nice,” Burley Middle School eighth-grade basketball player Daycen King said.

O’Leary Middle School hosted Burley Middle School last week for a matchup of eighth-grade conference foes.

As the teams lined up for free throws, O’Leary’s Aidan France rebounded the ball and let Logan take a shot. Then another O’Leary player, Kostner Cook, got the rebound and gave Logan a chance to try again.

“So I subbed in and then Logan subbed in at that same time, and I was, like, talking to the Burley teammates, and I was like, ‘Let’s pass it to Logan so he can get a couple of points,’ and we passed it to him, and he got six points,” Cook, Patterson’s teammate at O’Leary, explained.

This wasn’t the only time an opponent has offered to make Logan feel included. Logan’s former coach Blake Hollingsworth said his favorite moment came during Logan’s seventh-grade year against Filer.

“But the moment Logan hit his three in the game, I have never heard a crowd so (loud). I’ve never seen a bench jump so high. It was an eruption that still to this day will always resonate with me,” Hollingsworth said.

Logan spends time at practices working on his craft; after all, his favorite player is Steph Curry.

“What should other teams watch out for?” the reporter asked.

“Watch out for my Curry three, and I will dunk on them,” Manning said.

Or his ball-handling skills…

His teammates and coaches past and present say his biggest impact is felt off the court.

“He’s always checking water bottles, grabbing stuff after the game, clearing up, encourages others to be good teammates,” CJ Bame, Logan’s coach explained.

Teammate Daxyn Alvey added, “He always brings up the team, whenever we’re down, he always picks us up, he says, ‘Don’t get down, push through.’”

Logan hopes to try out for basketball in high school, and we know the Magic Valley will welcome him with open arms.

“Logan is an amazing kid. I love playing with him, and I wish there were more kids like that would play,” Cook said.

“If I make the team, I’ll make the team. If I don’t, I’ll get cut; my team will say maybe next time you will try again,” Manning said.

See video of Manning playing here.