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.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
Granted Extra Year, South Dakota Center Cameron Fens Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Seven-foot center Cameron Fens, who had exhausted his collegiate eligibility until a recent court ruling granted him and other graduating athletes one more season, committed to UNC Friday afternoon. View this post on Instagram Fens, originally from Dubuque, IA, graduated high school in 2022. He began his career with Illinois-Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference […]
Freshmen, Transfers and More: Every Newcomer Joining UNC Men's Basketball for the 2026-27 Season
As Michael Malone embarks on his first season as the head coach of the UNC men’s basketball program, he’s gotten busy securing the additions of several newcomers to the program. Malone and his staff have mined from traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal to fill out Carolina’s roster, and that work is continuing […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face West Virginia in 2026 Dick Vitale Invitational
Another key non-conference date for UNC’s 2026-27 season has been set. The Tar Heels will face West Virginia in the second annual Dick Vitale Invitational, which will be played Friday, Nov. 27 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. A tip-off time will be announced later. See you in Charlotte 📍⤵️ 🔗 https://t.co/ybKYYmj1sS pic.twitter.com/yY3vUw2JKc — Carolina […]
On Air Today: Proposing a 'Village at South Campus' (Including the Dean Dome)
The ongoing push to keep UNC basketball at the Smith Center now includes a proposed 'Village at South Campus' around the arena.
Report: Longtime Gonzaga Assistant Jorge Sanz to Join UNC Men's Basketball Staff
According to a report from Theo Lawson of the Spokane Spokesman-Review, longtime Gonzaga assistant Jorge Sanz is set to join UNC head coach Michael Malone’s staff in Chapel Hill. Longtime Gonzaga assistant/Director of Operations Jorge Sanz is moving on to North Carolina after eight seasons in Spokane, where he was integral to the program's nonconference […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Cost of Business
Carolina has released its salary structure for the 2026-27 men’s basketball season, and right now it has to be a game of wait and see. Mike Malone is making $7.5 million in his first college head coaching season and his new top assistant Chuck Martin is making $500,000. Here is where it gets interesting. The […]
Report: Buffalo Transfer Angelo Brizzi Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Angelo Brizzi, who spent the 2025-26 season with Buffalo, reportedly committed to head coach Michael Malone and UNC out of the transfer portal Wednesday. Inside Carolina first reported the news. UNC will be Brizzi’s fifth school in five years. The guard began his career at Villanova in 2022 – entering college in the same class […]
Former UNC Player Ed Davis Among Several Indicted in NBA Gambling Scandal
Ed Davis, who played for the UNC men’s basketball team from 2008 through 2010 and helped the Tar Heels win the 2009 national title, is among six former NBA players who are being charged with conspiracy, bribery and money laundering as the result of a federal investigation. An indictment published Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network Takeover
The ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face Illinois in Nashville Hoops Showdown in January
UNC is adding another high-level non-conference matchup to its 2026-27 schedule. The Tar Heels will face Illinois in the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday, Jan. 30. The matchup has been confirmed by both programs and by Bridgestone Arena, which will host the game. Tar Heels 🆚 Fighting Illini in Nashville pic.twitter.com/UuhExCctMB — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
›