Joey Sankey

Classroom

Sankey has a 3.4 grade-point average and is pursuing a B.A. in journalism and mass communication with a specialization in strategic communications and a minor in history. He was named to ACC All-Academic Men’s Lacrosse Team in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He was tapped for the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was a Dean’s List honoree in 2014.

Character

Sankey is a 2015 UNC team captain and a member of the Veteran Leaders Program in the Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy. He is a graduate of the Rising Stars Programs in the Carolina Leadership Academy and served an internship in sales and marketing with WPVI-TV in Philadelphia in summer 2014. His other summer internships have been with Independence Sports Magazine in Philadelphia and with the American Indoor Lacrosse Company.

Community

Sankey volunteers with Pediatric Playroom in conjunction with UNC Children’s Hospital, leading groups of student-athletes to spend time with critically ill youth. He is organizing efforts for the UNC lacrosse team to support the Mission 22 Foundation, which aims to raise awareness that 22 veterans commit suicide every day. He spent last summer as a volunteer youth for 5th and 6th graders in Philadelphia.

Competition

Sankey was named to U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-America teams in 2013 (third team) and 2014 (third team). He was a First-Team All-ACC selection in 2013 and 2014. He is a four-year starter in UNC’s attack unit, and as of February 11, 2015, he had 165 career points, which ranks 11th in UNC history; had 96 career goals, which had him tied for 13th place in UNC history; and had 69 career assists, which had him in 10th place in UNC history. Sankey has never missed a game in his UNC career, starting 58 of 61 games through February 10, 2015. He was the team’s second-leading scorer in 2012 (44 points) and 2013 (56 points) and the leading scorer in 2014 (57 points). He was a 2014 Tewaraaton Trophy candidate and the UNC Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2014. Sankey was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team in 2012 and was Carolina’s most valuable freshman player in 2012. 

As of February 11, 2015, he had recorded a point in 38 successive games, the third longest active streak in NCAA Division I and tied for 8th all-time in UNC history. He also had scored a goal in 18 successive games, the fourth longest active streak in NCAA Division I and the eighth longest streak in Tar Heel history. Sankey ;ed the Tar Heels in goal scoring with 33 in 2014 and was second on the team in goals scored in 2013 (36) and third in 2014 (22). Has had hat tricks in 16 career games.