Syracuse's Tiana Mangakahia Is Playing Like The Best PG In The Country

The choice for the Paradise Jam Reef Division’s Most Valuable Player was so obvious. In fact, there really wasn’t any other option. Syracuse point guard Tiana Mangakahia turned the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C., into her own personal playground for three days and has some hardware to prove it.

In helping the Orange go undefeated to win the event on Saturday, the 5-foot-6 sophomore was simply sensational, carving up defenses to average 13.7 points and 13.7 assists per game in wins over Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, and George Washington.

Mangakahia shattered the tournament’s assist record in less than seven quarters and finished with 41 total. She even broke the Syracuse program record for most assists in a single game with 17 against Wisconsin.

Sure, the Orange helped the cause by knocking down open jumpers, but Mangakahia was special and has been nothing short of impressive to start the young season.

Mangakahia, an Australia native and Hutchinson Community College (KS) transfer, has registered at least 10 assists in every contest this season, has recorded five double-doubles in six games, and currently leads the nation averaging 11.8 assists per game.

For her efforts, she was named the ACC's Co-Player of the Week.

Is she the best pure point guard in the country? It’s hard to argue against it with the way she’s playing right now, and she has no intentions on slowing down.