Growing up roughly 30 minutes from the Ohio State campus, Pickerington Central senior center Sterling Manley is no stranger to the Buckeye basketball program. Ohio State is not a stranger to Manley, either.
With head coach Thad Matta and top assistant coach Chris Jent evaluating the 6-foot-11 Manley twice in the last two weeks, the Buckeyes have flirted with the idea of bringing along yet another front court piece in a 2017 class that already has Westerville South center Kaleb Wesson committed.
"Coach Matta stopped by open gym on Monday this week and he was very impressed with Sterling overall," Eric Krueger, Pickerington Central head boys basketball coach, told Eleven Warriors. "[Matta] loved his size, length and skill level around the basket and even in space. He believes [Manley] has great hands and feet for a big man."
As Wesson and Manley stand alone at the top of Central Ohio's senior class, Manley has quickly bridged what used to be a sizable gap between Wesson and anyone else in the area. It is that duo of Wesson and Manley that has Ohio State wondering if it could work with the Buckeyes' current roster situation.
"Ohio State is intrigued with the possibility of playing Kaleb Wesson and Sterling together," Krueger said. "They feel it could work."
With Wesson in the fold, Ohio State is likely to have five power forwards and centers on its roster by the start of the 2017-18 season. A transfer or early draft entree could open up a spot for Manley in the front court that could see both he and Wesson teamed up on the Buckeye front line.
"I think Sterling would be very excited about an offer from Ohio State, especially being so close by and growing up in Pickerington," Krueger said.
However, Ohio State might not have the time to wait around.
Despite a season-ending leg injury in February, Manley's stock has continued to explode. Manley has dozens of offers, while also being evaluated by North Carolina, Indiana, Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee and Georgetown in the last week alone. The senior's top offers include West Virginia, Xavier, Nebraska, Pitt, Purdue, Creighton, Tennessee and Missouri. While the injury was tough for Manley at the time, it may have been a blessing in disguise for the senior big man.
"From a mental standpoint, he has battled so much adversity and worked so hard to get strong and healthy," Krueger said. "The adversity has made him hungry and motivated to achieve his goals. The adversity he's endured has contributed to him going from a kid who was a hard worker prior to the injuries to becoming the hardest worker on our team and an example to the younger kids."
Not ranked by any of the major national scouting services, Manley is a bit of a hidden gem mystery, as injuries have plagued him for the past year. However, with a clean bill of health and added length, strength and skill, Manley is as hot of a prospect as there is in the Midwest at the moment.
"Like many great players that have come through our program, he has paid his dues and he knows the time is now," Krueger said. "The light switch has fully turned on and he is ready to lead."
A legit 6-foot-11, Manley is a shot-blocking force that alters everything at the rim with his massive wingspan that surpasses seven feet. On the offensive end, Manley has a legitimate skill set, as he excels with the jump-hook and can also step out and knock down mid-range jump shots with consistency.
"Sterling has really improved his body overall by learning how to take care of it," Krueger said. "He has gotten so much stronger in both his lower body and upper body. His basketball skills are continuing to improve every day as well."
When he was healthy last season for Pickerington Central, the TIgers were as good as any team in the state, winning all but one game when he was in the lineup - even taking down current Buckeye Andre Wesson and eventual state champion Westerville South (Kaleb Wesson was out with an injury during that game). Back for a highly-anticipated 2016-17 season, Manley leads a Pickerington Central group that is as talented as they come. With the size, length, talent and athleticism to be a force, Manley is looking to bring Pickerington Central back to the state final four for the first time since 2012.
Set to lead Pickerington Central in his last season in a Tigers uniform, Manley has embraced the challenge of leading a talented group of younger players. While adversity may be enough for other players and teams to crumble, Manley is an exception. Battling adversity for the greater part of his high school career, Manley is ready to see where the next path takes him as he is back and better than ever before.
Check out highlights from Manley last week, via the good folks at 270 Hoops.
