Last year Pinnacle High School won the Arizona 6A state championship in basketball. The team was led by then-sophomore point guard Nico Mannion and junior shooting guard Spencer Rattler. With the absence of Rattler on the court this season, the load will mainly fall upon the shoulders of Mannion.

Mannion is ready for that weight. Being ranked the 12th best basketball player in the nation, he believes that his talent and leadership skills will be able to lead his team to great success again this year.

“My dad always told me, ‘If you’re going to be one of the best players, you’ve got to work the hardest as well. Set an example for everyone else,’” Mannion said.

Being successful the year after winning a state championship is difficult.  There are many different reasons as to why that is, but most are because of complacency within either the athletes or coaches, or sometimes even both.

Distractions also play a role after winning everything. Mannion also had to navigate through his recruitment process this offseason. Earlier this month, Mannion decided to stay in-state and play at the University of Arizona.

However, there is no complacency with the Pioneeers. Their practices are extremely competitive and fun to watch -- players and coaches not stopping in a drill until either a ball goes in the basket or a rebound from a missed shot is recovered.

Fighting for loose balls, diving for balls that are on their way out of bounds and grunts by players after their bodies collide to gain position for a rebound are some of the sights and sounds at a Pinnacle practice.

All of that energy and intensity is derived from their desire to win. Their most energetic and hungry player is Mannion. His 6-foot-3 frame allows him to convert all of that energy into explosive bursts at the rim when he blows past his defender.

“He practices as hard as anybody. It is leadership through his actions,” head coach Charlie Wilde said.

This intensity transitions onto the court for every game that Pinnacle plays. There are no plays off for Mannion.

Last season, Mannion averaged 23.4 points per game, and 5.8 assists per game.

Mannion can score at will. Either driving by his defenders for a tough layup or dunk, or he can shoot it from beyond the arc, coming off of a screen for three points.

The senior point guard can do all of these things while still managing to dish out flashy passes to his teammates who are more than capable of shooting from beyond the perimeter or finishing inside.

Mannion believes, however, that his basketball IQ is the best part of his game.

“I feel like I am a really smart point guard. I can get everyone involved but I can also score when I need to. I can run a team. I am vocal and I can communicate well,” Mannion said.

The luxury for Mannion’s teammates is that they get more shots because of how much attention Mannion draws from defenses. Mannion draws in defenders and his teammates are rewarded with wide-open shots from beyond the three-point line.

Mannion chose to reclassify and become a senior this year. He is poised to have another breakout season, barring injury or any other reason that would hold him out of competition.

Being ranked the best player in Arizona will leave a target on Mannion’s back, and he knows that.  So far this season, Mannion is averaging 25 points per game.

Mannion is looking forward to what might be the most intense non-conference matchup for Pinnacle this season. Pinnacle (5-0) is playing at home this Friday against Shadow Mountain (1-0), which won the 4A state championship last year.  The game will start at 7 p.m.