UNC reserve forward Sterling Manley announced his plans to graduate and transfer from the university on Friday night.

In a social media post, Manley revealed his intentions to leave the basketball program after four seasons. He will have two more years of eligibility: one from the COVID-19 pandemic and one from redshirting due to injury.

“My teammates will always be my brothers and I will always be a Tar Heel,” Manley wrote. “My journey has been a little different, but with God, the great staff here at UNC, and my awesome family I have been able to persevere and continue to live my dream.”

Manley will depart Chapel Hill with a tenure hampered by leg injuries. He appeared in just 18 games during his sophomore season due to knee soreness and had surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee during the offseason, leading him to be unavailable during the 2019-2020 season. The 6-foot-11 forward also suffered severe leg injuries during his high school basketball career.

The Pickerington, Ohio native was limited to just three appearances this season in a reserve role, but made his first in-game appearance in two years during Senior Night against the Duke Blue Devils. In the waning seconds of the 91-73 UNC victory, Manley scored off an alley-oop pass and tallied his only points of the year.

He was limited to 18 games during the 2019-20 season, which was attributed to knee soreness, then had surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee and did not play during the 2019-20 campaign.

Friday’s announcement further depletes the UNC men’s basketball program’s forward and center positions after other departures announced this week. Former five-star recruit Walker Kessler said on Monday he would also be entering the transfer portal after one season with Carolina, while freshman Day’Ron Sharpe announced his plans to become eligible for the NBA Draft.

With his decision, Manley becomes the ninth player to transfer from the Carolina men’s basketball program during Williams’ 18-year coaching tenure.

 

Photo via ACC Media.

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