He is the son of former NBA player Derek Strong. He played 450 games over a 10-year span with a number of teams. He was also a stock car racer. Not a typical post-basketball career transition.

Interesting. I’m assuming Les and Derek crossed paths in the pros, so that might have helped our chances over sd st and New Mexico.

probably so; looks like they were drafted about 4 years apart (Les in 86, Strong in 90).

Big congrats to Coach Jim Les for landing a terrific quality 2022 big man recruit Jac Mani-
https://twitter.com/_jacmani_/status/1449507663444774912

He just committed tonight to UCD.Jac Mani is 6'8"< 210 lbs. from Beverly Hills, HS, in LA.
https://247sports.com/Player/Jac-Mani-46127513/TimelineEvents/
https://verbalcommits.com/players/jac-mani

He had offers from UC Riverside, Bradley (Jim's old school), Denver, Howard, Montana, Cal Poly, and Portland.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAJtiaL659c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAJtiaL659c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGQAdgu_RhE

That’s great. Glad to see some more size coming in. He looks like a big time recruit for the Ags.

Mani looks like he is athletic and agile for a big man:

Gotta love a big man that can shoot.

Coach Les needs to start working on Mani's younger brother, Jon Mani (their parents must have preferred the fewest possible consanants in their kids' names :) ).
He is a 2024 recruit who already has a Division I offer prior to his sophomore year.
https://verbalcommits.com/players/jon-mani