PICKERINGTON OH., (WCMH) — Pickerington Central’s practice can feel more like a warm-up session at an all-star game.
There’s a lot of cheering – and much of it follows a high-flying dunk.
Specifically, one Tiger makes it look easier than the rest.
“Lot of hard work and dedication. Staying and sticking to it. It hasn’t always been easy,” says Sterling Manley, the 6-foot-11, 242-pound Pick Central centerpiece says.
He makes it look easy, though. Several of the country’s top-tier college basketball programs took notice, including national power North Carolina, where Manley will play next season.
As for staying close to home, Ohio State never offered Manley.
“They liked Sterling a lot,” says coach Eric Krueger. “But it was later in the process and Sterling felt like he could go to some other places where they didn’t have a big man commit.”
OSU already has that big man commit in Westerville South center and Manley’s friend, Kaleb Wesson.
“Once you find that school, once you say this is where I want to be, there’s really no turning back,” Manley says.
For now, Manley’s school is Pickerington Central and his team will look up to their senior leader – in more ways than one.