2 CFC100s land with UBC

UBC adds two top recruits to their 2018 class.

When CFC100 Giovanni Manu, a defensive lineman from Pitt Meadows Secondary School, and CFC100 Pauljeet Dhami, a tight end from Notre Dame Regional Secondary School, visited the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, any nervousness they made have had was set at ease by the coaches.

Giovanni Manu

There is no place like home, and while Giovanni Manu won’t be right in his backyard, the product of Pitt Meadows, BC, won’t be leaving the province of his birth. “I chose UBC because I enjoyed my visit there. It was probably the nicest campus I’ve been on,” he said. “Staying back here in BC where I have friends, family and support was another huge reason why I wanted to stay here in BC and attend UBC.”

Family and friends aren’t the only people in Manu’s corner. Manu dreams of playing professional football and he said he and his parents believe that Head Coach Blake Nill can help him get there.

“He talked to me a lot and he said he believed that I have a huge potential to go to the NFL or CFL if I work with him and that he would take care of me if I commit there,” Manu said. “He also talked to my parents and became close with them. My parents felt comfortable around him.”

Since 2015, Nill has led the Thunderbirds to three straight Hard Cup finals and has captured one Vanier Cup. “He has a 72% winning percentage in his career as a coach in the playoffs and regular season and that stood out to me because I wanted to play for a winning team with a great head coach and program,” Manu said.

He added that, “In all my visits, I felt like none of the other schools had a better football program than UBC.”

Manu began his career in grade eight. The hulking 6’8, 320lbs offensive tackle not only used his size on the field, but on the court as well. Along with playing football for the Pitt Meadows Marauders (BC Secondary Schools Football Association), he was also on the basketball team. He was named as the Marauders’ best lineman three years in a row. He also has five First-Team all-star basketball tournament trophies. He has participated twice in the Fox 40 Prospect Challenge last year, once in BC and once in Ottawa, Ontario.

#TBirdNation .. big night @UBC13thMan Boardroom .. 6’8-315 Giovani Manu to @ubctbirds .. another top line prospect signed to the 2018 class pic.twitter.com/ME9GbmZ9mc

— Blake Nill (@CoachNill) February 10, 2018

Pauljeet Dhami

Pauljeet Dhami will be getting his money’s worth with a commitment to the Thunderbirds. “The University of British Columbia was the best academic school and football school I could’ve chose. They have a community there that appeals to me and makes me feel at home,” he said. “The coaching staff was incredible with introducing me and making me feel welcome.”

Dhami has been playing football for five years. In that time, the product of Vancouver, BC, has played for the Notre Dame Jugglers (BCSSFA) and partook in the Fox 40 Prospect Challenge. He has won a lineman MVP award. Standing at 6’4, 230lbs, he is interested in kinesiology.

#BlueChip .. Notre Dame RS athlete commits @ubctbirds this am .. 6’4-230 lb Pauljeet Dhami was a two way threat for the @NDJugglers in 2017 pic.twitter.com/22i0tXN2FF

— Blake Nill (@CoachNill) February 14, 2018