The Perth Wildcats of Australia’s National Basketball League officially welcomed former Tar Heel Brady Manek to the team Monday. Manek signed a contract with the Wildcats last Thursday.

“It’s just really cool to be able to play and get to see another part of the world,” Manek said in his introductory press conference, posted on YouTube. “I’m just glad I’ve got a team that is excited for me, and I’m ready to get back to work.”

Manek was not selected during the NBA Draft, but played with the Charlotte Hornets during last month’s Summer League in Las Vegas. Though Manek was impressive in his limited minutes, the Hornets did not offer him a contract for their regular-season roster.

The UNC fan favorite was a key piece of the Tar Heels’ “Iron Five” rotation which led the team to the national championship game in April. Manek averaged 18.8 points per game and shot better than 47 percent on three-pointers during Carolina’s NCAA Tournament run, including 28- and 26-point showings in UNC’s first two games.

“I’m just excited to be done with the school part of my life,” said Manek, who played five seasons of NCAA basketball. “I’ve accomplished a lot in school, and then now just to focus on basketball… that’s the most exciting part for me.”

“Brady’s had a very distinguished college career at the University of Oklahoma, and most recently last year at North Carolina,” Wildcats general manager Danny Mills said. “We’re extremely excited to bring him into our roster for next season.”

In his comments, Mills called Manek’s shooting ability “unquestioned,” while also lauding his ability to move without the ball.

The Wildcats are the most successful team in the NBL, winning 10 titles in the league’s 43-year history. No other team has more than six. The NBL’s season begins October 1.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: Endearing
Seth Trimble endeared himself even further with the UNC fanbase Monday night, scoring a career-high 30 points vs. Louisville.
Seth Trimble Used Challenge from Hubert Davis, UNC Teammates to Fuel Career Night
If you want to know the inspiration for Seth Trimble’s career-best performance against No. 24 Louisville Monday night, you have to go back to a snowy afternoon in Syracuse a little more than 48 hours ago. The Tar Heels were beating the Orange at halftime, but it had little to do with Trimble: the senior […]
Seth Trimble's Career High Leads UNC Men's Basketball Past No. 24 Louisville
Seth Trimble scored a career-high 30 points and UNC withstood a late Louisville rally to beat the No. 24 Cardinals 77-74 Monday night at the Smith Center. HOME DUB.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/SiO0E9lUlM — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 24, 2026 Trimble’s 30 points surpassed his previous career high of 27, achieved last season against Dayton at […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Drop to No. 18, Women Rise to No. 21
The UNC men’s basketball team dropped two spots to No. 18 in the latest AP Poll, while the women’s team rose one spot to No. 21. Both polls were released Monday. The men’s team split its pair of games during the past week. The Tar Heels lost badly at NC State Tuesday night in Raleigh, […]
Chansky's Notebook: Veterans' Day
At Syracuse, where UNC was once again without injured star freshman Caleb Wilson, the Tar Heels won largely because of experience.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Louisville (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will return home to the Smith Center Monday night to host Louisville. It’s the first meeting of the season between the Tar Heels and Cardinals. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can do so at 97.9 […]
UPDATE: R.J. Davis' UNC Jersey Ceremony Postponed Due to Weather
R.J. Davis’ jersey honoring ceremony has been postponed. UNC announced the postponement Sunday afternoon on social media. No makeup date has been scheduled. RJ Davis’ halftime ceremony postponed. pic.twitter.com/wdttHNTbnt — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 22, 2026 The UNC men’s basketball program will honor R.J. […]
UNC Men's Basketball at Syracuse (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will travel up to the JMA Wireless Dome to face Syracuse Saturday afternoon. The Tar Heels have already beaten the Orange once this year, defeating them 87-77 in Chapel Hill the evening of Feb. 2. If you aren’t traveling north with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those […]
Chansky's Notebook: Tables Turned
This year's only regular-season matchup between UNC and NC State in Raleigh barely got out of the starting gate.
The Tar Heels Played Without 'Pride' at NC State, and They Know It
The last time NC State beat UNC this badly, the year was 1962. Dean Smith was in his first year as the Tar Heels’ head coach, President John F. Kennedy was in the Oval Office, and the No. 1 song in America was “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee and the Starliters. In other words, it […]
›