Cam Manyawu (Iowa Hawkeyes) - College Basketball Series | Ep. 3

One thing about the Bible that I've noticed is every single time you read it, no matter what you read, you'll learn something.

Humans are built in such a complex and intrinsic way. There's no way that God's not really. It just doesn't make sense for things to happen the way that they happen in my opinion, for God to not be real.

This is how much He cares about us, you know, off the court as people. It's not a business relationship. It's very much like a real relationship behind it.

Sometimes when I'm struggling, it's like, man, what can I do? I'm so frustrated. But then it's just like, God has me.

Welcome to another episode of The Walk Podcast. Today I'm pleased to be joined by Cam Maniao of the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball team. Welcome to The Walk Podcast, Cam.

I'm happy to be here. Appreciate you having me.

Yeah, so I saw that you grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. What was it like growing up in Kansas City?

I'd say it was a pretty regular childhood. It was a fun. It's a good city to live in. You know, a lot of things to do grew up in cheese fans. So I went to a couple of games, always playing basketball. So that was something that I had.

And then I just spent a lot of time with my family and friends and just had a great upbringing.

Yeah, do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have two older brothers and a younger sister.

Okay, are you pretty close with them?

Yeah, I'm pretty close. I'm pretty close with my siblings. My little sister, she plays basketball as well.

She just played in the district semi-finals today. So they went to state last year, lost in the state championship.

So they're trying to get back on that run and get back to state and win this year.

And then my brother, we're really close. We talk pretty much every day. So I'm really close with my family. That's a pretty big thing to me.

So just keeping them close to me and talking to them every day is a big thing for me.

Yeah, how do you manage that as a college athlete?

To be honest, it's hard to try and make sure that you're keeping up with them.

So if I kind of feel like it's been too long since I've talked to my siblings, I'll just kind of hit them up asking how they're doing.

And to be honest, I probably don't do a good enough job. So that's something that I try to just check in with them as much as possible.

But I mean, we got a lot going on with basketball. We're traveling school.

So I just try to make as much time for them. And then I mean, it's kind of the same thing with, you know, with crisis.

Like trying to make time for him. And that's probably one of the biggest areas for me to grow so far.

And that's something that I've been trying to work on.

When did your relationship with Christ start?

I started pretty young. I've been in the church my whole entire life.

I mean, my parents had me going to church since I was an infant.

And I mean, we didn't miss too many Sundays for a while.

And once COVID kind of hit, we stopped going and I never really got back into it.

And then I recently started, I kind of got back into Christ.

Like more like on my own, you know, kind of for the first time choosing for myself.

Got back into it when I got to Drake.

Yeah, when I got to Drake, just kind of seeing all those guys because we had a, we had a locker room of Christ followers.

And so that kind of like just made me kind of more curious to Christ and wanting to follow me even more.

But I would say like I'm, I was kind of lazy about it.

And not wanting to, you know, go to church or read my Bible and those type of things.

So kind of seeing them kind of made me want to.

But then like I didn't really have something that pushed me forward.

And then for my birthday, my 19th birthday, my girlfriend bought me this devotional by Tim Tivo.

And so I started to read that.

And that was kind of like my first baby step into, you know, choosing Christ for myself and really trying to, you know, follow that.

So I started reading my devotional every day and, you know, kind of getting into that.

And then, you know, as that kind of got me going, when I got to Iowa, found a church here in Iowa, Baratoss.

And, you know, me and Bennett and Tate and a couple others, we started going there.

So then I've been going every Sunday that I can go there.

So I kind of took that step forward and going to church every Sunday.

And wanting, like really wanting to be there and choosing it for myself.

And then just, you know, taking little steps like that.

And then like, when I was at Drake, something I started praying every day.

I wasn't praying every day.

So getting myself to start praying every day.

And it was a challenge.

There'd be a week where I wouldn't pray.

And then I'd get back on it.

And so just getting myself to be able to, you know, take that little step of praying every day and just slowly growing.

And then, you know, getting to Iowa and going to, now I go to church.

Every Sunday that I can go to church, I'm going to church.

And then also then there's a salt company at church, which is on Thursdays.

Starting to get myself to go to that.

So just making more and more time for Christ.

And then, you know, currently right now, I'm trying to get into reading my Bible more.

So taking a little baby step in that and trying to at least read my Bible once a week and getting into that.

And like keeping, helping that grow, because once I build that habit, it'll be easier to grow from that.

Just from what I've seen with my walking Christ.

So just continuing to do that.

And, you know, continue to grow as much as I can taking little steps.

And really just not being embarrassed by where I'm at.

Because I think, I think as Christians, you feel the need to be perfect.

And that's just not the case.

I mean, we're all sinners.

And so you just got to, you got to take it, you know, your walk at a time.

You can't judge others of, you know, where they're at in their walk.

And just keep growing.

And I think that really just will help you in your walk.

Because I mean, I've seen just, like, I've just seen myself grow so much.

And just different, and different avenues of, you know, my life.

And just different avenues of being a follower of Christ.

And so just keep growing, basically.

Yeah, yeah.

And we're good for you.

It's important.

I think for anyone that grows up in the church, like in a family environment,

it becomes difficult to make faith your own.

And then a lot of times that can happen in college.

But once you're in college and your family is not around,

it really has to become your own choice.

And so it's great that you've made that choice.

And I think even just the desire to, just the desire to make the Lord a priority in your life is a big step.

And it's, I think you're probably further ahead than what you might give yourself credit for.

But one reason we named the walk, the walk podcast is we wanted to be a place where athletes could share about their story,

no matter where they're at in their walk.

And so there's some guys that have preached at churches or like they're super far along in their walk.

And there's other guys that maybe they just met the, you know, came to know the Lord a week ago.

But it's always just great to hear the stories of how athletes come to Christ and, you know, want to share about it with the fans that, the roof of them.

Wanted to back up to the point of your girlfriend giving you a little devotional.

It's amazing how sometimes God can use like the smallest thing like she gave you a little book and it seems like it's changed your life.

So how has following the, are you still with her?

Yeah.

And so how is, you know, following the Lord impacted your relationship with her?

I think it's allowed us to grow, you know, wanting to put, put the Lord, you know, in the sense of a relationship and kind of trying to follow a Christ-like marriage and, well, not married,

but like Christ-like relationship and then, you know, building that into a marriage, you know, one day and then really just, you know, trying to grow every single day.

And I think it helps us with the way that we live our lives because the Lord, he kind of, he puts out a plan for you and how to live your life and how to treat others.

So it makes it, it makes it very easier and you can kind of, you can just kind of feel like, you know, the growth we've had since we both really dove into following Christ and, you know, trying to follow the Lord.

That's great.

You mentioned like, you know, trying to get into the Word and like reading the Bible, you know, as often as you can.

For someone who doesn't know where to start in the Bible, like, is there a place that you would suggest or is there a place in the Bible that has like really stuck with you?

Um, I'd say just, for me, I kind of just opened it up and just picked a random, you know, chapter in the New Testament and just kind of started reading.

But I think what could help is just having maybe like a plan that tells you what to read.

And so that like, it's easier instead of trying to figure out what to read, you have something telling you like what, what to read and you know, get into it.

And that kind of takes that, you know, part of the, like thought process away for you to just go in there and read it.

But then like, I've always been enamored with like Genesis and like the creation of the world.

Like I always can kind of go on a deep dive and just run it like reading that and just kind of finding new things every single time that you read it.

And that's one thing about the Bible that like I've noticed is every single time you read it, no matter what you read, you'll learn something new.

Like so, I mean, there's people who've studied the Bible and gone through it so many times and they continue to learn new things every single time.

So that's just what makes it so interesting is you learn so many just, you learn so much new, like different things every single time.

And then also like it correlates with what's going on. Like it's crazy when you're reading something and it's exactly what you're going through.

And you just know like God put it in front of you at that time at the right time for a purpose.

And so just reading the Bible kind of just opens your mind to just new things.

And then also just always like makes you more interested whenever you're reading it.

Just like for me, like it's hard for me to get my Bible open at times.

But once I'm in it, like I can sit there and just read and keep going and go in deep dives.

And then I kind of like hop around and just go through different things.

I mean, if I have time, I can just sit down and just read, you know, forever.

You mentioned that Genesis is a book that stands out to you.

What about, what is it about creation that fascinates you?

I don't know. I think it's, I guess maybe just like all the questions that you have about the world and you know, just reading something,

reading something about the creation of the world and be like, okay, well, that makes sense like why this is like that.

And it kind of just answers some of the questions that you have about, you know, how the world operates and like how things were made.

And why they're here. And so I don't know why, but I've always been kind of drawn to it.

And then it seems like you're surrounded with a great group of teammates, you know, both at Drake and here at Iowa.

What does it like to have that support system around you and what has that meant to you?

I think it's, I think it's really big because it makes it easier to want to follow Christ.

It makes it easier to, you know, try and follow Christ because you have guys who are who will hold you accountable.

And also like I try to hold them accountable.

So it's a lot easier. It's a lot easier to, you know, want to go to church because you got guys like, hey, are we going to church?

And it's like, yeah, I'll go like maybe maybe you're thinking, ah, I'm kind of tired. I don't want to go.

But then you got guys who are like, all right, let's go. And then you go with them and you just have that community.

And something about that community just makes it a lot easier, you know, to try and, you know, follow Christ.

And even even when you, you want to be lazy and not and not do it, it just makes it easier to kind of get together and do that.

Or like even sometimes after practice, we have, we have devotionals with the, with a pastor who comes in and he talks to us and talks us through passages.

And so guys really, hey, like, let's go get in here. It's only five to ten minutes. And so it's right after practice already there.

So it's easy to get it. It makes it a little just more convenient to get in there.

And it just helps you with your, you know, your thought process of, you know, going through.

You know, follow it like following Christ and making sure that you're, you know, there for each other.

Yeah, it's definitely a blessing to have that because not everyone, you know, playing division one college basketball has that environment where, you know, being a follower of Christ is something that's encouraged and something that you can, you know, be a strong part of.

So it's great to hear.

Is there ever been a moment in your life where you felt that God is real?

Well, I think just like, I haven't had, I don't think I've had like a, you know, like a major, like a moment like, well, God is really in my life here.

But just like, just little things where it's something happens. And it's like, what, like, yeah, God, like God's real, like there's just no way, there's no way.

And then for me, like, just even just on basic thinking, like, like humans are built in such a complex and in a trisic way, like, there's no way that God's not real.

It doesn't, it doesn't make sense for things to happen the way that they happen, in my opinion, forgot to not be real.

And so like, I just, I don't see how, how the things of this world can be without, without God being here.

And then going back into your, kind of your life journey out of high school, you went to Wyoming.

What was your experience like out there?

Um, so for me, I was 17 year old kid out there, you know, away from my family for the first time.

So it wasn't very pleasant for me. I mean, I was homesick the whole entire time.

Um, we, we didn't win a lot. So I mean, that was, that was not that great.

And then I mean, I hadn't really, you know, leaned on Christ as much at that time.

And so I, I wasn't exactly, I mean, I wouldn't say I was like, not happy, but I just wasn't as happy as I probably could have been.

So that was probably, you know, a tough year for me just for being, you know, being so young and being so far away from everybody that I know and love.

And so that was a pretty hard year for me.

Yeah, that's really challenging, especially being that far from home.

Yeah.

Um, why did you choose to get a drink?

Uh, so the assistant coach, so the assistant coach who was at Wyoming that recruited me in Wyoming.

He originally recruited me to Indiana State, which is where I committed to out of high school.

And um, he's really, really close with my high school coaches.

So that relationship was there.

I really, really trusted him and he was kind of the reason why I got out to Wyoming.

So with him leaving, it was like, I wanted, you know, I kind of want to see what my other options were and, you know, the possibility of following him wherever, like where he went.

And so he went to Drake.

Coach McCollum was at Drake.

He recruited me to Northwest, um, out of high school. He was my first offer.

So that was, you know, that was enticing.

And you know, when I got up here, when I got up to Des Moines on my visit, it was, it was really just like a vibe.

The vibe was really like, yeah, these, like these are my people.

I was super happy, you know, and then it was a perfect situation close to home.

So I could see my family could come out to a lot more games.

And then it was just the right people.

And for me, that's a big thing, like relationships are a big thing for me.

So knowing that I was going to be around people who really cared for me and, you know, put me, would put me in the right positions.

That that was really big for me.

And is that, is that also what led you to Iowa?

Yeah, 100%. I mean, I knew like, I knew those were the people that I wanted to be around.

And, you know, happiness isn't something that is easily found.

And I'm in relationships also, that's not something that's easily found.

So I maybe could have transferred somewhere else and, you know, try to go get as much money as possible or something like that.

But what I truly be happy and enjoy the college experience, when, you know, I've already, I'd already been somewhere where I wasn't exactly enjoying it.

So I'd already been through that and had that perspective.

And it was like, whenever, you know, Coach McCollum called me and asked me if I wanted to come to Iowa.

I mean, I was like, yes.

So there was, there's really no thought process behind it.

I knew where I was going and I knew where I wanted to be.

So you, along with Coach McCollum, came to Iowa.

What are some things that you've learned from Coach McCollum that you'll take with you after basketball is over?

The one, the main, I mean, one thing for sure is how much he cares about us, you know, off the court as people.

It's not a business relationship. It's very, it's very much, there's very much like a real relationship behind it.

He's someone I'll talk to after basketball, you know.

And so that's a big thing of it is the relationship piece of it because, you know, now with NIL and whatnot.

This, this, like, this can become very, very business driven and it's never been that hearing.

And so that's one thing.

And then also just how hard you have to work.

I mean, he's a super competitive guy and he works really hard.

And he's taught, he's taught us how to, you know, work hard every single day and bring it and how to be ready every day.

And I think that, you know, we'll translate in, you know, in your, in your real life.

And, you know, how to work, be ready every day because that's just a trait that not a lot of people have.

And so to have that, it'll put you ahead of a lot of people.

For sure.

And then diving back into the faith.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse that you lean on?

Yes. Proverbs 3, 5, 6.

It's trust, you know, trust in Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your understanding.

And so it's just something that I've always, you know, it's always stuck with me because, you know, even though you're going through something.

It's always trust in the Lord and know that he has your back.

And if you're going through something, I mean, that's just the plan for you right now to go through and you'll come up better on the other side.

So, especially, especially with basketball, but even with life.

But I always just tell myself, like, God got me, I'm okay.

Like, whenever I'm going through, I'll make it out of it.

And, you know, if, and if it's, if I'm not, you know, like, if this is something that's going to put me, like, you know, kind of hold me down.

I mean, it's okay. God got me, like, more basketball-wise, like, you know, sometimes when I'm struggling,

it's like, man, well, like, what can I do? Like, I'm so frustrated.

But then it's just like, God has me, like, when it's my time to come out of this, like, he has me.

I just got to keep working, keep the right mindset, and I'll be fine.

Yeah. It's not always easy to, like, lean on him through the hard times.

And sometimes, even when we know he's there, we choose not to.

But we definitely, there's definitely a piece found when we lean on him through difficult times.

Is there any Christian music that you enjoy listening to?

That's probably one area that I really need to grow.

I mean, for me, it's, I just listen a lot of worship songs.

So, like, older worship songs from when I'm younger are probably my favorite.

And then one that I really like that we were listened to at Veritas was Heart of the King.

King of my heart is what it is.

And that's a song that I've been listening to as much.

But like, outside of, like, just worship music, I don't really listen to, you know, Christian music.

Like, music, but I really, I really do enjoy, like, worship music.

So on Sundays, it's Christian, you know, it's worship music all day.

But mostly, like, those kind of older, like, early 2000s, worship songs are kind of like my bread and butter.

I'm actually the same way. There's not many people that, in this day, that, you know, like the early 2000s.

But that's what I like to do.

Like, I like the kind of upbeat, got the choir in the background.

Like, that's my type of, like, you can put it on loud.

And that's kind of like my type of worship music that I like to listen to.

And then you mentioned growing up in a church going home.

Have you been able to kind of grow in that aspect as far as, like, sharing about your faith with your family?

And, like, kind of how things are different for you now than they once were?

Um, yeah, I mean, my mom, my mom kind of always stayed in it.

And so, like, my dad also, like, my mom watches church service online all the time.

And then, like, my sister, I've seen, I think, I don't know if it's from me that she saw,

but like, I've seen her grow. She's getting into reading her Bible on her own.

So I'm super proud of her for that.

But I think we've, we all kind of are different, like, different walks in our lives.

And, you know, we're just kind of taking it, you know, our own step at a time.

And so I think maybe as a family, you can do a better job sharing, like, what we're doing and what we're going through with Christ.

But I think we're all taking different walks with Christ.

My dad, my dad will call me, send me some, you know, send me something that he's listening to.

He's probably the main one who, who will share what he, what he's reading or going through when it comes to Christ.

And, and, you know, going in church and whatnot, like, what he's watching and stuff like that.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's great.

And today, there's so many options as far as, like, different ways growing your faith and being able to use utilized, like, you know, watching online.

Yeah.

Um, even listening to podcasts.

Yeah.

Um, so a lot of younger people tend to listen to this podcast.

And, um, if there's, if there's a younger, let's say, like a high school basketball player out there that wants, is a believer, but wants to, um, lead their team by faith.

What advice would you give them?

Um, I would just say don't be scared.

Um, I think that's probably the biggest thing is you want to, you want to share, but you feel like maybe you're impeding on what someone thinks or you feel like you're forcing on them.

But I mean, you just got to share, you got to share your, your testimony and what you believe.

And, you know, I hope that that will bring them closer to God.

And, I mean, if it doesn't, it's not your fault.

And you just got to keep trying and, you know, continue to share.

And then also, as much as you can surround yourself with other, you know, other followers, I think that, that really, really helps when it comes to trying to lead and share.

Because when you have a community of people who are sharing, you can, you can grow the message more than you can by yourself.

Yeah, that's, that's great advice.

Um, is there anything else that you'd want to share on the podcast today?

Man, I think we hit it all.

Okay.

All right. Well, thanks so much for coming on, especially during this busy part of the season, really appreciate it and best of luck the rest of the season.

I mean, I appreciate it. I appreciate you having me.