By SAM LANCE
KANSAS CITY, KS — There are several prospects across the AAU landscape who have helped their stock heading into the July live period. Josh Manchester, a 6-foot-4 guard out of Mount Horeb (WI) and the Team Herro Nike EYBL AAU program, is one of them.
In his last eight games, Manchester is averaging 11.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 21-of-54 (38.9%) from 3-point range. He’s made at least two triples in all but one game during that stretch, including an explosion of five treys to help Team Herro defeat Tyran Stokes, Jason Crowe and the Oakland Soliders, 79-75.
“I feel like I can shoot it from anywhere,” Manchester told ZAGSBLOG. “I get it off pretty quick. Just the most important thing is being confident in your shot, and I thought I was [in KC]. I was able to knock down shots and kind of explode in the Soldiers game in the second half.”
Besides his shooting ability, Manchester describes himself as a competitor.
“Getting physical on defense and then attacking closeouts and scoring in the mid-range and at the rim,” Manchester said. “A little floater action too I’m really confident in.”
Manchester feels what he learned during his junior year at Mount Horeb has helped him become a better player this summer. During high school ball, teams often sent double and triple teams at him, making him learn how to finish through contact and get his 3-point shot off as quick as he can. The results are showing for Team Herro.
EYBL session 2 Highlights
12ppg
3 rpg
2.5 stls pic.twitter.com/TIHgDLD7As— Josh Manchester (@JoshManchester9) May 21, 2025
On the recruitment front, Manchester doesn’t currently hold any offers, but he’s receiving interest from high-major programs. He’s taken unofficial visits to DePaul, Iowa State, Marquette, Virginia (old staff) and Wisconsin. As for others involved?
“Just about every mid-major around the midwest wants me and says they want me on their team if I consider going mid-major,” Manchester said. “So just kind of in between those two [high-major/mid-major].
Schools to visit Manchester during the high school season included Drake’s previous staff (now Iowa) and former Wyoming assistant Pat Monaghan, who’s now at Nebraska. North Dakota State came out a bunch and Iowa State, Marquette and Wisconsin made appearances as well. Head coaches from Iowa, Marquette and Wisconsin were courtside for Manchester and his teammate Vaughn Karvala in Memphis.
Manchester is working on planning some official visits for this summer/fall but has nothing set in stone yet. He broke down the schools he’s visited to ZAGSBLOG:
DePaul: “Coach [Bryan] Mullins, he was the guy that had me and invited me for the unofficial. That visit was great. All the assistants took me out to lunch and they just kind of got to know me. It almost just felt like I was at dinner with friends. It went great. They really made an emphasis on how they’re building the program, and I’m excited to see how they are this year. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
Iowa State: “Coach [T.J.] Otzelberger, he was great when I went there. I went to the Kansas game so that was insane. That was a crazy environment. And then coach [JR] Blount is the guy that reaches out to me. He’s been great. He’s from Milwaukee and he knows my AAU coaches really well.”
Marquette: “I went to a couple games in the winter and then last June I took an unofficial there. They’re definitely one of the elite of the elite programs. I loved all their coaches. They all come and talk to me after every game I went to, which is a big thing. They’ve just been great. Coach [Tyler] McDevitt, he’s been the one that’s contacted me about that stuff. I couldn’t love those guys more there. They’re the guys you want to play for for sure.”
Wisconsin: “They’re kind of focused on the portal, so they’re kind of just watching and keeping an eye on me. They’ll probably come to watch me too in June at June Jam.”
Virginia’s new staff under Ryan Odom has not reached out to Manchester. The guard has a few characteristics for his future college home in mind.
“I’d just say schools that are going to be honest with me and push me to be great and get me to the next level,” he said. “But then also it’s got to feel like a family. And somewhere where — I want to stay four or five years generally — so that’d be my preference.”
Manchester’s father, Paul, played Division III college basketball while his mother won three state titles on the hardwood in high school. Growing up, Manchester was more of a baseball player and played shortstop, but he ended up focusing on basketball.
The guard is unranked by major recruiting services but is one of the best 3-point threats in the country. Manchester is being recruited by prep schools, but right now he’s set on a return to Mount Horeb for his senior season.
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