UNC Basketball: Harris, Manley close to returning for Tar Heels?

Will the UNC Basketball program get two key players in their rotation back sooner than later? There was some good news over the weekend

Through the first 8 games of the 2020-21 season, the UNC Basketball program has struggled to score at times and it’s cost them games. While North Carolina has been really good in the paint with their rotation of four post players, their guard play has really struggled.

But while UNC enters this week and their second Atlantic Coast Conference game, they might be receiving a big boost to their rotation soon.

Both Anthony Harris and Sterling Manley have yet to play a game this season for the Tar Heels sidelined with injuries. Harris hasn’t played since December of 2019 as he tore his ACL in his freshman season. Manley hasn’t played in two years, recovering from a knee injury. But now, the two are hoping to return this season and provide a boost and they appear to be getting closer and closer.

Over the weekend, the UNC Basketball Instagram account tweeted out some photos from practice and it included shots of both Harris and Manley out there in team drills:

Now, this doesn’t mean that both have officially been cleared to play but it is a good sign that they are at least on the court. Both Harris and Manley have been in drills over the past few weeks but neither has progressed enough to the point where they can be cleared.

Perhaps Harris is closer than Manley which would help UNC’s guard situation that is currently just a rotation of freshmen Caleb Love and R.J. Davis as well senior Andrew Platek. Adding another scorer in that backcourt could provide valuable for UNC’s chances to turn things around this season.

For more on the UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.