Athlete of the Week: Malcolm Mann

by Kymee Noll – Horizon Sports Editor

Even though the Hesston College men’s basketball team is part of a competitive seven team region, Coach Dustin Galyon believes his team possesses the country’s best on ball defender at the NJCAA level.

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Malcolm Mann (Plano, Texas) makes a statement early in the home game versus Labette CC with a dunk. Photo by Masayo Satoh.

Point guard and captain of the Larks, Malcolm Mann (Plano, Texas) was a transfer student-athlete to Hesston last fall.  Ever since he’s been part of the program, Galyon thinks he’s made everyone better.

“At the point guard spot, he touches the ball every time,” Galyon said.  “He has an opportunity to make every guy better, and he does that.”

Galyon looks to Mann for leadership and to get the team energized for games and practices.  Gaylon said he’s the type of player that gets the rest of the team started and excited.

“He has a great ability to orchestrate on both ends of the floor,” Galyon said.  “He really gets the rest of the guys going on both ends of the floor.”

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Malcolm Mann (Plano, Texas) bringing the ball up the court in the home game versus Labette CC. Photo by Masayo Satoh.

Galyon and teammates Grant Walker (Newton, Kan.), Austin Mitchell (Plano, Texas), and Jake Hansen (Effingham, Kan.) all mentioned the same word to describe Mann: “Unselfish.”

“Malcolm is a very good person, a very hard player,” said Mitchell, a former and current teammate.  “He plays hard every game and is a great teammate.  He puts his teammates first and plays to win.”

Walker, Mann’s co-captain, says he feels like he’s known Mann for much longer than a year and a half.

“On the court, he’s going to do anything in his power to win, and help the team,” said Walker.  “Off the court, he’s going to do everything in his power to help others and be a friendly role model to many.”

Mann is also a great addition to the Hesston College campus, participating in extra-curricular activities like the Hesston College gospel choir.

“Malcolm is a Christ-follower who isn’t afraid to show it,” Walker said.  “He leads by example and loves with all his heart.  I’m very glad he’s a part of my life, the team, and the Hesston College community.”

Leadership is a theme that keeps coming up in conversations about Mann.

Professor Marissa King, First Year Experience coordinator, works closely with Mann in his role as an FYE scholar – a student leadership position. She says Mann is gifted with the ability to see the world with “intellectual hospitality,” a phrase she borrows from philosopher John Dewey.

“Malcolm is one of the rare souls who knows how to listen in a way that makes people pause to lean forward and be attentive in return,” she said. “He connects with the toughest critic, the brashest naysayer, and the quietest observer.”

The men’s next game will be an away game Wednesday, Nov. 19 versus Fort Scott Community College (Kan.) at 7:30 p.m.

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