At seven years old, most children are still learning how to talk, how to play and how to just have fun in life, but Jaliyah Manuel is no ordinary kid her age. If one were to go to Youtube and search Jaliyah Manuel you would understand what I mean. This young star already has the dribbling skills of Steph Curry and the quickness of Steve Nash.
Back in March of last year, the youth athlete appeared on the Steve Harvey and took fans on TV by storm after she had already won over tons of viewers online. While on the show, she wowed Mr.Harvey away by dribbling two basketballs at a time and keeping her feet in motion while handling the rock.
News Stations like Nightly News, NBC and WWL News in New Orleans have all done news reports about the future WNBA star. Each news report showed the same thing, Jaliyah Manuel can do all on the court and she has the work ethic to back it up.
Nightly News reported that Manuel does not have any days off and trains 24/7 in hopes of being the first women to play in the NBA. The young seven year old illustrated her work ethic by dribbling basketballs back and forth while using tennis balls to work on her hand coordination.
The internet phenom’s amazing skills assisted her in meeting her favorite player Lebron James. The seven year old told Nightly News that the king of basketball was her main idol because he can dunk and dunk well.
Ms.Manuels dad told WWL News that his daughters love for the game began at the age of one. Since then, the seven year-old sleeps and dreams of the game of basketball. Before she goes to bed she insists on watching a game or two before the night is over, while grabbing her favorite basketball to sleep with.
So where does the hoops star get her skills from?
Besides starting the game at a young age, the next Candace Parker told news stations that she puts in hard work every day with no sorts of vacations what so ever. Every day after finishing her homework, she trains for two hours a day and one the weekends she works in and out for four hours straight. Manuel’s parents make sure she puts school before basketball, as her WWL News reported that she is a straight A student who works hard in school as well.
Her father also told reporters her game has improved so much that his daughter has the ability to dribble with a blind fold. Manuel and her dad have such a strong connection that the young hoop star will tell her dad about different ideas she has to help improve her game.
Don’t let her headband fool you, this young athlete has the ability to dribble to take circles around people and in a couple years just might be bigger than Lebron James. Manuel’s skills and work ethic have the ability to take her a long and with fans already buzzing about her only time will tell when she will make to the NBA.
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