Manuel Blasdel
The Good Me
Bio
Mother And Father: Scott & Valerie Blasdel
Siblings: Isabela Blasdel, Tomas Blasdel, Evangelina Blasdel, Jorgie Blasdel
Lived: Cleveland Ohio (3 years), Houston Texas (7 years), Newton North Carolina(present)
Schools Attended: Smith Elementary (Houston, Texas) {K-3}, Startown Elementary (Newton, North Carolina) {4-6}, Maiden Middle School (Maiden, North Carolina) {7}, Concordia Lutheran School (Conover, North Carolina) {8}, University Christian High School (Conover, North Carolina) {9}, Newton-Conover High School (Newton, North Carolina) {10-12}, Duke University (Durham, North Carolina) {All For Years}
High School Basketball Career: At UCHS (MVP Award), NCHS (All Conference all 3 years), North Carolina State Champion In Basketball, Most points scored in NCHS History, Most assists in an high school game (39)
NCHS Basketball
One of the closest games of the year. I went 8-8 from the free throw line. I made the shots that counted for the team to help us get the win.
Manny and Marisza
Me and my girlfriend Marisza during the Christmas of 2012.
Family
Me, my father and my younger sister when I was 21 months old.
Duke University
Playing basketball at Duke was won of the greatest experiences of life. Coach K and my teammates taught me so much and that is why I was successful in the NBA.
NBA Bound
My contract was for 6 years $112,000,000. I couldn't wait to start my first season as an NBA player. In my first game I scored 18 points and added 6 assists. I thought that, that performance was a great one to start off your career. We ended up beating the New Orleans Pelicans 99-91 in the 2019 season opener.
Throughout my 14 years in the NBA I stayed with the Charlotte Hornets all 14 years. I made the all-star team every year. Some of the awards that I won were, Rookie of the Year, 7 MVP Awards, 2021 and 2022 3-Point Champion, Slam-Dunk Champion, 2027 All Defensive Team. I led the Hornets to their first NBA Championship my third year playing in the NBA.
On January 17th, 2024 the Hornets were playing the Lakers. That game I passed Scott Skiles for most assists in a single NBA game. He had 30, I had 32.
The NBA taught me a lot as I was growing up as an adult. I became a man who was making his own decisions. I got to play against some of the greats in the NBA. Now in North Carolina everyone knows me as, "#22, the man who turned Charlotte around." Playing for the Hornets changed my life greatly.
Retirement Then Success
Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
The camp is five days long and is overnight. We have had many kids come out of the camp who have gone to Division 1 schools to play basketball. (Michael Richardson, D.J. Lewith, etc...) The camp has grown drastically since it's opening in 2038.
Creating the camp, Ball Is Life North Carolina, has been a great deal to me. It has given me a different point of view of how younger people see the game. It has taught me to be a great leader in which I give kids the ability to be great athletes and people. If I would have not started, Ball Is Life North Carolina, then I would be an old retired fart sitting on his couch. I love teaching kids of course I love being around anything that involves basketball and Jesus Christ.
The All-American Ball Is Life North Carolina Teams
Preaching The Word Of God
My first assembly was at Abraham Lincoln High School In Philadelphia. I was a little nervous at the beginning but once I started to meet the players of their basketball teams ( JV and Varsity) I started to see that this was going to be good to the kids. At that assembly/speech I told the kids that Jesus Christ fought his toughest battles so that we can be forgiven and go to Heaven. I always tie basketball with Christianity so that the kids can understand that basketball is a privilege to play. I love preaching to kids. I do this so that they become better people and better athletes in whatever sport they play. I love what I do.