Warsaw star guard Kyle Mangas has verbally committed to play basketball at Indiana Wesleyan University starting in 2017 (File photo by Keith Knepp)

WARSAW – The Crossroads League is a tremendous small college basketball conference.

The league is also starting to corner the market when it comes to recruiting tremendous Warsaw basketball players too.

WCHS senior Kyle Mangas via his Twitter account earlier tonight announced that he has made a verbal commitment to play at Indiana Wesleyan University starting in 2017.

Mangas is the second Warsaw player in the past five months to decide to stay close to home and be a part of the outstanding conference. WCHS grad Paul Marandet, who teamed with Mangas last season to give the Tigers one of the best backcourts in the state. is now at Spring Arbor University, also a member of the Crossroads League.

Mangas, an unselfish do-it-all 6-3 guard, helped lead coach Doug Ogle’s team to a 25-2 mark during the 2015-16 campaign. The Tigers won the Northern Lakes Conference title at 7-0 for the second straight year and then won the Class 4-A Elkhart Sectional title and the Michigan City Regional crown before falling 40-37 to McCutcheon in the Lafayette Jefferson Semistate.

Mangas led the Tigers in scoring at 19.4 points-per-game and also ranked first on the team in 3-pointers (45) and steals (41). He was second in assists with 57, while shooting 55.5 percent from the field (including 48.4 percent on 3-pointers) and 79.7 percent from the free throw line.

“We are really happy for Kyle,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle via a text message today. “If you can get Indiana Wesleyan to offer you a full scholarship you are a very good player which Kyle has proven he is.”

“Indiana Wesleyan targeted Kyle as a sophomore and recruited him steadily and well. Kyle is a likable young man and a tremendous basketball player. He will help IWU and they will help him.”

Mangas scored 523 points his junior season, the 13th highest single-season mark in the illustrious history of the Warsaw program. He also hit four game winning or tying shots during the season, including a 3-point play with 1.6 seconds left in a 38-35 win over Elkhart Central in the sectional championship game.

Mangas earned the IFN Area Player of the Year honors for his stellar play this past season. He was also selected to the North Group of the Junior All-Stars.

IWU, located in Marion, went 33-5 during the 2015-16 season and won the NAIA Division II National Championship. The Wildcats are coached by Greg Tonagel, who starred at LaPorte High School before playing at Valparaiso University.

Warsaw basketball fans will get plenty to opportunities to see Mangas during his collegiate career.  The Crossroads League also includes Grace College, Goshen College, Huntington and Saint Francis.