Former Archbishop Molloy and St. Anthony of Jersey City standout Ashton Pankey will transfer to Manhattan College, sources told The Post.
The 6-foot-9 forward, who spent two years at Maryland and is known for his rebounding and shot-blocking acumen, visited Manhattan on Friday after seeing Iona and Fordham earlier in the week. The Bronx native opted to transfer to become closer to his ill mother, he said in a previously released statement.
“My mom is the rock in my life and I promised her I would take care of her like she did for me,” Pankey said in the statement. “Therefore, I am choosing to put my family first and look for a school closer to home.
He missed his entire freshman because of a stress fracture in his leg aside from one minute. He averaged 4.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 32 games last year. He scored in double figures four times – he had 17 points against Radford – and reached double figures in rebounds three times.
The Jaspers will reportedly apply for a waiver to get Pankey eligible for the coming season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Manhattan is coming off a big year under first-year coach Steve Masiello. It went 21-13 and 12-6 in the MAAC. Pankey will likely start in the frontcourt alongside MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Rhamel Brown, who starred at Transit Tech in Brooklyn. George Beamon, Mike Alvarado, and Emmy Andujar all return to form a solid nucleus.