Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Five bold predictions for the Tar Heels 2018-19 season

By Bryson Gordon

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels has a conversation with Seventh Woods
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels has a conversation with Seventh Woods /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Garrison Brooks
CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Garrison Brooks /

Sterling Manley will surpass Luke Maye as the Tar Heels best big man.

Let me preface this prediction with this other prediction: Luke Maye will still be the leading scorer in the UNC frontcourt. Maye will still score more points than Sterling Manley, but that does not mean he will be a better player.

Manley showed flashes toward the end of this season of his potential. He has the potential to be a true back-to-the-basket big man for the Tar Heels, something they lacked this year.

But Manley can also bring the defense, something Luke Maye cannot bring. Maye struggles to guard bigger players and also struggles to stay with smaller players.

One thing I see Manley doing next year is bumping up his point production a lot. Yes, he only averaged 5.4 points per game for North Carolina, but his offensive game will only get stronger.

I think Manley will be somewhere around 9-10 points per game for the Tar Heels and his rebounding will see an increase as well.

He only averaged 3.6 rebounds this past season. With more minutes this upcoming season, there is no reason he cannot make the leap to averaging seven rebounds.

Related Story: Tar Heels showing 'most' interest in Matthew Hurt

Look for Manley to become the Tar Heels most important big man next season. He will average nine points and seven rebounds for the Tar Heels.

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