Kyle Mangas, shown cutting down the nets after Indiana Wesleyan won the NAIA National Championship, has signed with USK Praha in the Czech Republic to begin his professional basketball career. Photo courtesy the Indiana Wesleyan Sports Information Department

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – For the entirety of Kyle Mangas’ college career, he has been dealing with checks. In basketball at Indiana Wesleyan, Mangas was constantly checking off milestones and taking hand checks on the court. For his major in accounting, the assumed financial education, and perhaps checks and balances conversations.

Now, Mangas will find a new set of checks, paid by the Czechs.

It was announced Friday evening per a social post from Kyle’s mother, Ann Mangas, that her son is signing with USK Praha, a professional basketball team in Prague in the Czech Republic.

Mangas was a professional prospect after completing possibly the most storied career in Crossroads League history at Indiana Wesleyan. Mangas was a three-time Crossroads League Athlete of the Year with his latest award earned in June. He led the Wildcats to four Crossroads League championships, to which he was the four-time league MVP, as well a two-time NAIA Player of the Year. The 2018 NAIA national champion was also named the 2020 Bevo Francis Award winner, signifying overall excellence in the NAIA.

Mangas was just the second player ever, joining the late Steve Platt, in scoring over 3,000 points in his career, and had a magnificent senior season. Averaging 29.5 points per game, Mangas shot 60 percent from the floor, 39 percent from three-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line while contributing 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per night as IWU was ranked in the top five for majority of the 2020-21 season. The Wildcats entered the NAIA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed before being upset by fellow Crossroads foe Bethel in what would be Mangas’ final game in the red and gray.

For his career, Mangas was a 56 percent shooter from the floor and hit 307 three-pointers. He made 81 percent of his 722 total free throw attempts, but also hauled in over 800 rebounds and dished out 544 assists as a combo guard/forward.

Mangas was a standout with the Tigers as a prep superstar. The 2017 graduate finished his Warsaw career with 1,438 points and was an Indiana All-Star, helping the Tigers to a regional championship in 2016 and a sectional title in 2017.

Mangas was on the NBA radar, having worked out with a handful of teams including the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. Mangas was not drafted, thus being open to continuing his career overseas.

USK Praha is listed as a well-decorated outfit from Prague, a 14-time champion among the Euro League. The current roster lists just one other American among the list in Nate West. Specifics to the signing and contract details were not immediately made available per the USK Praha team page.