Whiz Kid of the Week: Samantha Mangano

Each week Winchester Patch will select a . This week, we chose Samantha Mangano, a 17-year-old senior at Mangano is one of the stars on the Lady Sachems basketball team.

Whiz Kid's Names: Samantha Mangano, 17

Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: Winchester High School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Mangano was nominated to be on the McDonald’s all-American high school basketball team. The team is comprised of the top 24 basketball players in the country, and Mangano was nominated as one of the possible players in the game.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: It’s been Mangano’s hard work on and off the court that has helped her reach this level.

“She’s very passionate about the game,” said her three-year varsity coach, Jason Cacciapuoti. “She has all the skills on the court to be successful – ball-handling, length, she can defend and shoot. But it’s also her leadership that’s been key.”

When first informed of her nomination, Mangano was caught by surprise, but it’s an honor that she knows she worked hard to achieve.

“One of my old coaches told me after a game, and I told him I didn’t believe him,” Mangano said.

Mangano needed him to show her the list with her name on it before she finally accepted the fact that she was a Mcdonald’s nomination.

“It means a lot to be nominated,” said Mangano who committed to play at the University of New Haven next year. “But I don’t play to win awards. I just go out, play hard and play the best that I can to help our team win. It’s great that I was nominated, but that’s not why I play this game.”