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Sterling Manley attracts all-star lineup of college coaches at open gym

By Zach Fleer, 09/12/16, 10:30PM EDT

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Pickerington Central senior Sterling Manley was visited by three high-majors on Monday

Pickerington, Ohio -- Bob Huggins. John Beilein. Tom Crean. Greg McDermott. Monday night's Pickerington Central open gym was a who's who of college coaches, as main event 6-foot-11 center Sterling Manley returned to the hardwood for his most-anticipated workout thus far in his career.

The top unsigned senior in Ohio, Manley's stock has risen to meteoric levels in recent weeks, with Monday's open gym being a testament to that. Evaluated by Creighton, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia on Monday, Manley impressed in our first viewing of him since a season-ending leg injury in February.

While Manley's increased height and length was promising, it was the center's hands and low-post presence that was most impressive. Controlling the paint, Manley snatched everything around the rim, while showing improved athleticism and explosion. 

Already a budding low post prospect before the injury, Manley has only gotten better in the time since, which is really impressive considering where he was seven months ago. With knockdown jump shooting ability, Manley moves very well around the basket and is an imposing shot blocking presence on the defensive end. 

Since Saturday, Manley has been visited by Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, West Virginia, Indiana, Xavier, Ohio and Creighton, while going through in-home visits with Pitt and West Virginia during the process. 

Manley talked at length with Indiana head coach Tom Crean, as the Hoosiers sent three members of its coaching staff to Pickerington on Monday. While the Hoosiers did not extend an offer, you can expect Indiana to be the next Big Ten program to put Manley high up on its recruiting board. 

Manley added another offer on Monday from Creighton, after head coach Greg McDermott evaluated the lengthy big man during the open gym run. The offer from Creighton is Manley's 18th overall, as we expect that number to continue to grow over the next few weeks.

For Beilein and Michigan, the main attraction was sophomore point guard Jeremiah Francis, who has continued to rise up the charts as a prospect. With great size and physicality, Francis has been under the spotlight since day one at Pickerington Central and has not disappointed. 

Francis was also closely tracked by Ohio assistant coach Aaron Fuss on Monday, as the Bobcats, along with West Virginia, have extended an offer to the 6-foot-2 point guard. 

The Bobcats also checked out junior wings Jah Blevins and Adrian Nelson, who both impressed on Monday. While Blevins brings a Matt Barnes type impact to the Tigers, doing literally everything on the wing, Nelson is an intriguing prospect on the wing that dunked everything on Monday. 

With as much talent and depth as any team in the state of Ohio, Pickerington Central showed off its embarrassment of riches on Monday, with impressive performances from Manley, Francis, Blevins, Nelson and sophomores Coleton Landis and Javohn Garcia

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