UW Recruit Manthou Concludes Undefeated Prep Career - Washington Huskies

UW Recruit Manthou Concludes Undefeated Prep Career

By Athletic Communications on May 31, 2010 10:34 AM | No Comments

It's been quite a year for Kentwood High's Max Manthou. The UW-bound senior was a captain on the Kentwood hoops team which won the state title this past winter. Manthou then concluded his historic prep tennis career with his fourth-consecutive Washington 4A State Singles Championship this past Saturday in Kennewick.

Manthou was never defeated in his local prep career, and went through this year's

state tournament again without dropping a set. He defeated Kent Andreasen in the final, 6-2, 6-3. Here is the Seattle Times write-up on Manthou's final match for Kentwood.

Manthou's success has come in an unorthodox fashion, as he has never devoted his life completely to tennis, as so many top juniors do that aspire to play professionally. Manthou was given the option to attend a private academy but declined, and continued to play basketball for the Conquerors all four years.

This ESPN RISE feature is a great read on the future Husky, what has motivated him during his athletic career (including a legendary Husky on the hardwood), and what lies ahead for him at UW. Here is an excerpt:

"When he was 11, his private coach nicknamed him Little Big Man because of the way he dismantled his older, often larger, opponents. Showing superior footwork and an advanced tennis IQ, he fearlessly piled up improbable victories.

As a pint-sized freshman at Kentwood, the trend continued. He frustrated bigger, stronger upperclassmen, out-maneuvering and out-thinking them all the way to his first state title.

"The Little Big Man mentality means that you always leave everything out there," says Manthou, who is the first to admit he possesses neither a devastating serve nor an overpowering forehand. "You do whatever it takes to win."

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