UNC Recruiting: North Carolina basketball offer 2017 center Sterling Manley

The Tar Heels are on the lookout for a few big men now that they have offered six-foot-ten, 230-pound center Sterling Manley. This offer comes just days after fellow big man Brandon Huffman committed to the program, possibly giving the 2017 season plenty of options in the frontcourt.

The offer came after a visit from Roy Williams to Manley’s hometown Pickerington, Ohio last week. UNC now joins the likes of West Virginia, Creighton, Georgetown, Missouri, Pitt, Tennessee, Xavier, Wisconsin with offers out to the three-star talent.

Not many schools are on Manley right now because he’s relatively unknown at this point. He was gaining attention on a national level last year but suffered a compound fracture to his leg seven months ago. The injury kept him out of the travel circuit, leaving coaches and scouts unable to see him over the time it took him to recover. Now that he’s working out again, teams are starting to feel comfortable offering him.

In the meantime, he’s been ranked 252nd overall. Manley is also considered the No. 60 power forward in the 2017 class, and the No. 4 player out of his home state of Ohio. The Tar Heels appeared to be impressed by his length, athleticism, and post skills.

"Coach Williams loved his length and size, great hands and feet around the basket, and his ability to play on both ends of the floor," Kreuger said. "He loved his basketball skills overall and sees the tremendous upside that [Sterling] possesses."

Manley does not currently have an official visit planned with North Carolina, but it is believed one will be arranged soon. He has already taken his official visits to West Virginia and Xavier, so one to UNC can’t be far behind.

The 2017 class looks to be taking shape as a commitment from Manley would add him to a list that already includes guards Jalek Felton and Andrew Platek, along with center Brandon Huffman. Williams is clearly looking to add more big men to the class in order to balance out the roster and give them a stronger presence in the post.