The Top 100 UNC Basketball Players

Who are the greatest Tar Heels of all time? Inside Carolina’s “Inside The Numbers” analytics expert Adrian Atkinson has updated his unique rankings through the 2023-24 season to measure the most impactful careers in Carolina Basketball history.

The following criteria were used to guide the rankings:

• Only ACC-era players (1954-present) are included.
• Only collegiate performance matters. Pro careers are not factored into the data.
• Length of collegiate tenure matters, although players aren’t penalized for playing in the era before freshmen were eligible.
• Peak performance and overall collegiate contribution are given equal weight.
• Only era-normalized production and accomplishments matter.
• For players from 1980-present, a WORP (wins over replacement player) metric will be factored in to measure a player’s peak season and career contribution. It combines per-minute production/efficiency with minutes per game in order to calculate how much more valuable a player is than a replacement-level ACC player (generally a 9th or 10th man– replacement level is calculated for each position using historical ACC data from 1980-present).
• Winning matters. Intangibles are also considered (albeit secondarily).
• Current players are included based on their career to date

by Adrian Atkinson

Honorable Mention

125. Henrik Rodl
124. Jimmy Braddock
123. Jackie Manuel
122. Cole Anthony
121. Caleb Love
120. Ranzino Smith
119. Dave Popson
118. Brad Hoffman
117. Ray Respess
116. Kevin Salvadori
115. Ed Stahl
114. Steve Previs
113. Charlie Shaffer
112. Harvey Salz
111. Al Lifson
110. Kris Lang
109. Tony Bradley
108. Day’Ron Sharpe
107. J.P. Tokoto
106. P.J. Hairston
105. Reyshawn Terry
104. Warren Martin
103. Jim Hudock
102. Kenny Williams
101. James Michael McAdoo

100. Harrison Ingram, 2023-2024, PF/SF, 6-7, Dallas, Texas

Peak season (2024): 12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 43.0 FG%, 61.2 FT%, 38.5 3Pt%, 53.0 TS%, 1.64 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (1 year): 12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 43.0 FG%, 61.2 FT%, 38.5 3Pt%, 53.0 TS%, 1.74 Career WORP, 1.43 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Ingram, a transfer from Stanford, becomes the sixth one-and-done member of the top 100 (joining Bob McAdoo, Brandan Wright, Coby White, Marvin Williams, and Brady Manek). A third-team all-ACC selection in his only season in Chapel Hill, Ingram’s contagious energy and enthusiasm helped to return the Heels to a No. 1 seed after a rocky 2023 campaign. While not dominant at any single phase of the game, versatility was his calling card. Ingram could back down smaller defenders, drive past larger ones, and push the break himself after a defensive board. He could pick and pop for a 3-pointer as easily as he could pick apart a defense with pinpoint passes out of the post. As proof of Ingram’s all-around impact, his 2024 season was the first one in Carolina history in which a player exceeded 300 rebounds (327), 50 made 3-pointers (65), and 50 steals (51). In fact, only Rick Fox (232/67/70 in 1991) and Joe Forte (201/55/67 in 2001) have even joined Ingram in the 200/50/50 club as Tar Heels.

A consistent contributor, Ingram scored in double digits 28 times in his 37 games at Carolina. He also added 17 games with double-digit rebounds. Ingram saved some of his best performances for the Heels’ biggest rivals. In a home win against Duke, he scored 21 points (on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-9 on 3s) whole adding 13 rebounds and four steals. In the rematch at Cameron, he notched a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.

No. 99 David Noel (2002-06, PF/SF, 6-6, Durham, N.C.)

Peak season (2006): 12.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 53.2 FG%, 62.5 FT%, 42.4 3Pt%, 60.4 TS%, 1.34 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 53.2 FG%, 58.7 FT%, 35.4 3Pt%, 58.6 TS%, 2.71 Career WORP, 0.92 WORP / 1,000 minutes

For three of his four years in Chapel Hill, Noel was used as an undersized power forward (and even center) to bolster some thin frontlines. Only during the ’05 championship season was Noel used at his true position on the wing. A versatile defender, talented passer, and hard-nosed competitor, Noel was a guy who could impact the game (and the box score) in many ways. He’s one of only four Tar Heels since 1980 to average at least 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in a single season (O’Koren in 1980, Fox in 1991, Forte in 2001, and Noel in 2006). As the undisputed senior leader in 2006, Noel inspired a young and inexperienced group of freshmen and ’05 leftovers to a 12-4 ACC finish and a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. By a strict WORP interpretation, Noel might be bit too high at No. 99. But intangibles matter, too.

No. 98 Brady Manek (2021-22, PF, 6-9, Harrah, Okla.)

Peak Season (2022): 15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 49.3 FG%, 69.2 FT%, 40.3 3Pt% on 98 made 3s, 61.3 TS%, 1.88 WORP / 35 games

Career Averages (1 year): 15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 49.3 FG%, 69.2 FT%, 40.3 3Pt%, 61.3 TS%, 2.09 Career WORP, 1.76 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Like Ingram and Noel, who immediately follow him on the list, Manek earns extra credit for leadership and intangibles. The graduate transfer from Oklahoma scored efficiently from all over the floor in his only campaign as a Tar Heel: in addition to hitting 98 3-pointers at a 40.3% clip (only Justin Jackson (’17) and RJ Davis (’24) made more in a single season), Manek made a stellar 80.2% of his 116 shots at the rim. His elite cutting, ball movement, and entry passing unlocked the Carolina offense during its late-season run.

After the departure of Dawson Garcia, Manek saw a significant uptick in both minutes and production. He scored in double digits in 19 straight games to end the season, averaging 17.6 points (including seven games with at least 20 points) and 3.1 made 3-pointers (at a 43.3% clip) in that span. He had a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double to close the regular season at Duke, helping to author a program-defining win. In the six NCAA Tournament games, Manek was even better, scoring 18.8 points per game while connecting on 47.8% of his 3s (and making 3.7 a game).

Despite his short stint in Chapel Hill, Manek quickly established himself as a fan favorite. While he will drop off of this top 100 list in the coming years, his legacy will endure much longer when recalling Hubert Davis’ successful debut season.

No. 97 Dudley Bradley (1975-79, SF/SG, 6-5, Edgewood, Md.)

Peak season (1979): 9.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.3 spg, 51.2 FG%, 60.8 FT%, 53.1 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 4.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 45.6 FG%, 55.2 FT%, 47.1 TS%

Bradley played limited minutes off the bench in Carolina’s 1977 run to the national championship game (45 minutes in 7 ACCT and NCAAT games). He did have a terrific performance against Purdue in the Round of 32 with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block in 16 minutes. Bradley’s play helped the Heels advance past the Boilermakers even without the services of injured star Walter Davis (broken finger). Arguably the finest wing defender in UNC history, Bradley moved into the starting line-up as a junior in 1978.

Although he scored sparingly (5.6 ppg), Bradley averaged 2 steals per game that season. That number exploded to 3.3 in 1979, an ACC-leading figure. Bradley’s 97 steals in a single season and his 3.3 per-game average are still Carolina records. He also boosted his scoring average to 9.2 ppg as a senior, easily achieving career-highs in FG% and FT%. Bradley had a couple signature moments as a Heel—most notably, perhaps, his last-second, game-winning steal and dunk to shock NC State in Reynolds Coliseum. He was also named MVP of the ’79 ACC Tournament after a 16-point, 7-steal, 4-assist performance led the Heels to a win over Duke in the championship game.

No. 96 Marvin Williams (2004-05, PF, 6-9, Bremerton, Wash.)

Peak season (2005): 11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 50.6 FG%, 84.7 FT%, 43.2 3Pt%, 62.7 TS%, 2.14 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (1 year): 11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 50.6 FG%, 84.7 FT%, 43.2 3Pt%, 62.7 TS%, 2.20 Career WORP, 2.76 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Williams was arguably the final piece that made Carolina’s ’05 title run possible. A terrific shooter as a stretch big, he made 85% of his free throws and 43% of his 3s in his only year as a collegian. In addition to his smooth shooting stroke, “it happen(ed) sometimes that (Marvin) dunk(ed) on people.” FSU’s Alexander Johnson learned this the hard way. Had he returned for his sophomore season, Williams would have been poised for a Stackhouse-/Wallace-style breakout. Despite only being in Chapel Hill for one campaign, Williams had his share of legendary moments—specifically, the iconic “and-1” put-back to beat Duke on Senior Day and the tip-in that gave the Heels a late 72-70 lead against Illinois in the national championship game.

No. 95 Serge Zwikker (1993-97, C, 7-2, Maassluis, The Netherlands)

Peak season (1997): 11.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 49.2 FG%, 75.8 FT%, 51.6 TS%, 2.05 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 7.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 50.1 FG%, 69.6 FT%, 52.2 TS%, 3.91 Career WORP, 1.61 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Zwikker’s breakthrough moment came as a sophomore in the ’95 NCAAT against Murray State. With Rasheed Wallace hobbled by a sprained ankle, Zwikker contributed 19 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. With Wallace in foul trouble, Zwikker also provided 16 key minutes in the Elite Eight upset of Kentucky, adding 5 points and 4 rebounds. He moved into the starting line-up for his final two seasons, averaging 30.2 MPG, 10.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 1.6 BPG as an upperclassman. Despite being 7-2, Zwikker preferred a finesse post game and mid-range jumpers (especially a feathery release from the short corner). This was reflected in his anemic career FTA Rate of 20.3. Though a below-average run-and-jump athlete, his size, positioning, and intelligence made him a solid defender, shot-blocker, and rebounder.

No. 94 Garrison Brooks (2017-21, 6-9, PF/C, Lafayette, Ala.)

Peak season (2020): 16.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 53.5 FG%, 64.1FT%, 56.4 TS%, 1.67 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 seasons): 9.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 52.6 FG%, 62.6 FT%, 55.2 TS%, 4.17 Career WORP, 1.28 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Brooks finds himself nestled between Kris Lang (who dropped to No. 110 in the latest version of the Top 100) and Deon Thompson, all of whom were complementary bigs on some vintage Carolina teams before becoming go-to options on subpar ones. After a high-efficiency, low-usage sophomore season (ORtg: 122.5, %Poss: 15.2), Brooks had a breakout campaign as a junior.

Picking up the slack following Cole Anthony’s injury, Brooks had huge games against Georgia Tech (35 points, 11 rebounds), at Virginia Tech (28 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists), and at NC State (25 points, 11 rebounds) while UNC’s star point guard recovered. Upon Anthony’s return, Brooks continued his torrid scoring clip. He averaged 23.4 points over the Heels’ final eight games, including a 26-13 double-double at Duke and a 30-point, 9-rebound performance to complete the season sweep over NC State. Overall, Brooks racked up 12 20-point games during the 2019-20 season.

With the emergence of Armando Bacot and the additions of Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler, Brooks struggled to regain his junior-year form in a crowded frontcourt in 2021. In fact, he failed to register a single 20-point game as a senior. Though he remained a defensive anchor in the paint, the sharp declines in both his usage and efficiency as a senior led to a frustrating finale to his Carolina career. Even so, Brooks delivered plenty of memorable moments in his time as a Tar Heel.

93. Jerry Vayda (1952-56, PF/SF, 6-4, Bayonne, N.J.)

Peak season (1954): 17.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 41.3 FG%, 63.1 FT%, 46.8 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 12.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 40.6 FG%, 67.0 FT%, 47.2 TS%

In a career that bridged the gap between the Southern and Atlantic Coast Conferences, Vayda was UNC’s leading scorer and MVP in its first year in the ACC. He also became the first Tar Heel to earn an All-ACC selection—a 2nd-team honor in ’54. When Lennie Rosenbluth joined the varsity in 1955, Vayda’s offensive role was reduced. It was further diminished when Pete Brennan, Tommy Kearns, and Joe Quigg moved up in ’56. Vayda went from being a volume-scoring top option on some mediocre teams to a role-playing contributor on a very good one (the 18-5 ’56 Heels who would become the 32-0 national champs the next post-Vayda season). Even as his role was changing, Vayda remained very adept at getting to the charity stripe. Of Carolina’s 81 1,000-point scorers, only four (Brennan, Hansbrough, Stackhouse, and Haywood) had higher career FTA Rates than Vayda’s 59.5.

92. John Kuester (1973-77, SG/PG, 6-2, Richmond, Va.)

Peak season (1977): 9.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, 51.7 FG%, 81.6 FT%, 56.6 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 5.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 48.2 FG%, 75.6 FT%, 52.9 TS% 

After spelling Phil Ford and Brad Hoffman as a reserve sophomore guard in ’75, Kuester joined Ford in the starting backcourt for the next two seasons. While Ford was the primary ball-handler and distributor, Kuester was also more than capable of running the offense. He averaged 5.3 and 4.0 assists per game in ’76 and ’77—Ford had 7.0 and 6.6 in those two seasons. A fantastic defender, Kuester also won the Carmichael-Cobb award in both 1976 and 1977, averaging 1.9 steals per game in those years. Kuester’s best stretch of basketball occurred during the final month of his Carolina career. After Ford fouled out with six minutes remaining in the ACC Tournament championship game, Kuester carried the Heels to a comeback win versus Virginia. UNC’s senior leader averaged 13.5 points and 4 assists in the Tournament, earning MVP honors in the process. Kuester followed that up with another MVP award in the East Regional. After 14 points, 8 assists, and 7 steals in a hard-fought win over Notre Dame, he added 19 points (on 13-of-14 from the line) against Kentucky to help secure UNC’s Final Four berth. Ford played just 15 minutes (scoring 2 points) versus the Wildcats after hyper-extending his elbow, but his long-time backcourt partner picked up the slack in his absence.

No. 91 Reggie Bullock (2010-13, SF/SG, 6-7, Kinston, N.C.)

Peak season (2013): 13.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.3 spg, 2.35 A:TO, 88 made 3s on 43.6% shooting, 62.5 TS%, 2.33 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 seasons): 9.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 188 made 3s on 38.7% shooting, 56.8 TS%, 3.27 Career WORP, 1.33 WORP / 1,000 minutes 

While not as flashy or publicized as his classmate Harrison Barnes, one could easily argue that Bullock’s peak value as a Carolina wing was higher. Even as a collegian, Bullock was at his best as a true “3-and-D” player. He struggled to create his own offense, but his ability to make smart cuts, score in transition, space the floor, move the ball, and (of course) knock down threes made him a very efficient offensive threat. In fact, in 2013, Bullock (as a junior) ranked 11th in the nation in Offensive Rating at 128.4. Midway through his sophomore campaign, Bullock replaced an injured Dexter Strickland in the starting lineup and immediately made the Heels a much more dangerous team (particularly on the offensive end). He capped off his sophomore season with a 17-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist performance to lead the Marshall-less Heels past Ohio in the Sweet 16. Bullock played 41 minutes, while connecting on 5-of-10 threes in that overtime victory.

As a junior, Bullock provided the type of consistency and efficiency that characterizes Carolina upperclassmen. While never scoring more than 24 points in a game, he had 14 games with at least 16 points in 2013. Likewise, as a junior, he had 18 games with at least three 3-pointers (but never more than five) and 16 games with at least four assists (but never more than six). Bullock wasn’t a disruptive defender, but he minimized mistakes, navigated screens extremely well (ask NCSU sharpshooter Scott Wood), and used his size and length to limit opportunities for smaller wings. Although he lacked a ton of signature moments or games, Bullock’s 2013 season ranked among the best for Roy Williams-era wings when considering two-way impact.

90. Dante Calabria (1992-96, SG/SF, 6-4, Beaver Falls, Pa.)

Peak season (1996): 12.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 42.5 FG%, 70.9 FT%, 39.5 3Pt%, 56.6 TS%, 1.67 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 8.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 45.2 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 41.2 3Pt%, 193 made 3s at 41.2%, 59.0 TS%, 4.67 Career WORP, 1.46 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Calabria came to Chapel Hill after prepping at Blackhawk High under the legendary John Miller (whose sons, Sean and Archie, are running their own D-I programs). Calabria played a reserve role as a freshman on the ’93 national champs (just three total minutes in the last four games of the NCAAT) before seeing his minutes increase as a sophomore (15 starts, 20.4 MPG in ’94). As a full-time starter in ’95, Calabria set the UNC single season record for 3-point accuracy by knocking down 49.6% of his attempts from behind the arc. Prior to missing all seven of his threes against Arkansas in the Final Four, Calabria’s 3-point percentage stood at 52.4%. As a senior in ’96, Calabria’s offensive role expanded (with the losses of Stackhouse, Wallace, and D. Williams) which corresponded with a decrease in efficiency. He still shot nearly 40% from behind the arc on his way to a 3rd-team All-ACC selection. Calabria was also a good passer and outstanding decision-maker; his career A:TO of 1.72 is one of the best among non-point guard Tar Heels. Dude had great hair, too.

89. Joe Quigg (1955-57, C, 6-9, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Peak season (1957): 12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 40.2 FG%, 65.0 FT%, 46.5 TS%

Career averages (2 years): 11.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 41.9 FG%, 68.4 FT%, 48.2 TS%

Quigg hit the two biggest foul shots in Carolina history, sinking a pair with six seconds left in the third overtime to beat Kansas by a point in the 1957 national championship game. He started at center as both a sophomore and a junior as the Heels won 50 of their 55 games over those seasons. A broken leg suffered in practice before his senior season effectively ended Quigg’s basketball career. He would go on to have a successful career as a dentist in Fayetteville. Had he been able to compete as a senior (on another fantastic UNC team), Quigg would certainly rank higher on this list. As it is, Carolina fans should forever remember Joe Quigg as the Tar Heel whose clutch performance at the line secured the program’s first NCAA Tournament title.

88. Deon Thompson (2006-2010, PF, 6-9, Torrance, Calif.)

Peak season (2010): 13.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 48.4 FG%, 69.3 FT%, 52.4 TS%, 1.81 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 49.4 FG%, 65.6 FT%, 52.1 TS%, 4.71 Career WORP, 1.45 WORP / 1,000 minutes

To many Carolina fans, Thompson’s legacy is somewhat tarnished by his role as a senior leader on the NIT-bound 2010 Heels. Like Capel and Lang in 2002, Thompson wasn’t built to thrive as a go-to scorer or top option. His finesse post arsenal (highlighting a turn-around jumper) was ineffective at drawing fouls, causing his scoring efficiency to suffer. He was also mediocre on the backboards for an ACC post player. Thompson was at his best as a 4th or 5th offensive option— the role he played on Carolina’s great teams of 2008 and 2009. He was also an underrated paint defender who became better and better on that end as his career progressed.

Thompson’s shining moment as a Tar Heel may have been in the 2009 national championship versus Michigan State. He scored nine points in the game’s first nine minutes, leading Carolina to an early 29-11 advantage at the 11:16 mark of the first half. He was a solid contributor on some excellent UNC teams— a description that fits many of the players who populate this region of the top 100 list.

87. Brian Reese (1990-94, SF, 6-6, The Bronx, N.Y.)

Peak season (1993): 11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 50.7 FG%, 69.2 FT%, 36.7 3Pt%, 57.4 TS%, 2.42 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 50.1 FG%, 64.3 FT%, 31.8 3Pt%, 54.9 TS%, 5.18 Career WORP, 2.02 WORP / 1,000 minutes

After a very solid junior season during Carolina’s ’93 championship run, Reese regressed significantly as a senior. After shooting 51/69/37 in ’93, he dipped to 49/51/19 in ’94. Losing complete confidence in his perimeter game, Reese made just 6-of-32 3-pointers as a senior (including Jerry Stackhouse, who made 2-of-20 3s in ’94, Carolina’s small-forward position combined to shoot 15.4% behind the arc). While Reese didn’t go out on a high note (he averaged 16.8 MPG over his final six games at Carolina), he was a 3-year starter, a terrific athlete, and an underrated defender (often overshadowed by playing alongside George Lynch and Derrick Phelps, two of Carolina’s best ever on that end of the court). His finest hour as a Tar Heel may have been the 1993 ACC Tournament when he led UNC in scoring with 56 points in 3 games (18.7 PPG), including 24 against Georgia Tech in the title game.

86. Lee Dedmon (1969-1971, C, 6-10, Baltimore, Md.)

Peak season (1971): 12.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 49.8 FG%, 72.9 FT%, 56.0 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 11.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 48.1 FG%, 67.8 FT%, 52.5 TS%

As a sophomore, Dedmon was the top frontcourt reserve on Carolina‘s ’69 Final Four team (backing up seniors Rusty Clark and Bill Bunting). While Charlie Scott’s 40-point explosion deservedly earns most of the credit for UNC’s victory over Duke in the ’69 ACCT championship game, Dedmon was also sensational. He added 19 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench—Heels other than Scott and Dedmon combined for just 26 points in Carolina’s 85-74 victory. As both a junior and senior, Dedmon led the Heels in rebounding. He added 2.8 assists per game as a senior in ’71— an incredible figure for a center. Dedmon capped off his UNC career by averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds over three games to win co-MVP of the ACC Tournament (despite losing the pivotal jump ball against South Carolina that cost the Heels the title). He then played an instrumental role in leading Carolina to the NIT championship (back when that was still a really big deal in the one-NCAAT-bid-per-conference era).

85. Harrison Barnes (2010-12, SF, 6-8, Ames, Iowa)

Peak season (2012): 29.2 mpg, 17.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 52.2 TS%, 1.75 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (2 seasons): 16.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 52.5 TS%, 3.39 Career WORP, 1.54 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Classmate Bullock had a better Carolina career in most aspects (as a passer, defender, rebounder, 3-point shooter, etc.), but Barnes’s big advantage was as a volume scorer/shot creator. He entered college as the consensus No. 1 player in his class, but started off slow as a Tar Heel. Coinciding with Kendall Marshall’s emergence as the starting point guard, Barnes’ scoring picked up over the course of his freshman campaign. He capped that season off with a great postseason run, averaging 22.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in seven tournament games. That stretch was punctuated by a 40-point explosion versus Clemson in the ACC Tournament in which Barnes made 12-of-17 field goals, 6-of-8 threes, and 10-of-11 free throws. Overall, he shot 40.0% from behind the arc in the 2011 postseason on nearly 8 attempts per game—a pace he was unable to sustain as a sophomore.

As a sophomore, Barnes had a big performance in the ACC Tournament championship loss to Florida State (23 points and 7 rebounds). But following the loss of Marshall to a broken wrist, Barnes, himself battling through an injury, was unable to carry the Heels to the Final Four. He made just 8-of-30 (27%) shots from the field against Ohio and Kansas in the Midwest Regional, including 2-of-14 from behind the arc.

Barnes was a bit of an awkward fit in UNC’s freelance passing game, as he had ball-stopping tendencies and liked to create for himself off the dribble/in isolation. Paired with paint-bound bigs like Tyler Zeller and John Henson created additional spacing issues for Barnes as a collegian. One reason why he’s relatively low on this list is his inability to create for others. Among the 93 UNC players with at least 100 assists or turnovers, Barnes ranks 76^th with an A:TO of 0.66. Among wings and guards, only Reyshawn Terry (0.64) places lower.

Barnes had an incredibly clutch season as a freshman, hitting multiple game-winning shots for the Heels. That season, he scored 29.3 points per 40 close-and-late minutes on 61.9% True Shooting. As a sophomore, however, Barnes did not demonstrate the same late-game magic, as his close-and-late TS% plummeted to 41.6.

84. Isaiah Hicks (2013-17, PF, 6-9 Oxford, N.C.)

Peak season (2017): 23.3 mpg, 11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 62.2 TS%, 2.21 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 seasons): 16.2 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 60.9 TS%, 5.09 Career WORP, 2.10 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Extremely foul-prone, Hicks ranks seventh in Carolina history with 370 fouls, or 6.1 per 40 minutes. That inability to avoid whistles limited his playing time as a Tar Heel, but Hicks was an efficient scorer during his minutes on the floor. An explosive finisher, Hicks placed fourth in the Roy Williams era with 128 career dunks. His most memorable flush might have been in the 2017 Round of 32 win against Arkansas after he slipped a screen in UNC’s secondary break for a key late-game basket.

Speaking of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, Hicks made a huge impact in the title-clinching win over Gonzaga with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. His tough, driving basket with 26 seconds left extended Carolina’s lead to 68-65. A durable contributor, Hicks is fourth in UNC history with 151 career games played. He’s also tied for the most ACC wins in the program’s history with 59.

Never a great defensive rebounder or help defender, Hicks made steady progress in these areas throughout his UNC career. He also made dramatic season-over-season improvements to his A:TO after becoming a full-time post player as a sophomore. Hicks could always finish at and above the rim. But by rounding out the rest of his game, he turned himself into a Top 100 Tar Heel.

83. Coby White (2018-19, PG, 6-5, Goldsboro, N.C.)

Peak season (2019): 16.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.54 A:TO, 55.6 TS%, 2.76 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (1 season): 16.1 ppg, 3,5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.54 A:TO, 55.6 TS%, 2.76 Career WORP, 2.76 WORP / 1,000 minutes

From a WORP / 35 perspective, White had the fifth-most-impactful UNC freshman season since 1980 (when minutes played data was first tracked), trailing Sam Perkins, Tyler Hansbrough, Antawn Jamison, and Brandan Wright. A second-team all-ACC selection in his only season in Chapel Hill, White was capable of offensive explosions when his step-back jumper was connecting. He became the only Tar Heel with a trio of 30-point performances, tallying 34 against Texas and 33 apiece versus Miami and Texas. White also added 28 points at Clemson and 27 against Virginia Tech. The consistent theme in those five scoring outbursts was that White was hot from the perimeter (particularly off the bounce). He made at least five 3-pointers in each of those games, shooting a combined 31-for-53 (58.5%) from behind the arc. But White could also be prone to cold streaks, exacerbated by some questionable shot selection. In 11 games against Duke, Louisville, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida State, Michigan, and Virginia, he made 15.2% of his 66 3-point attempts.

Entering college as more of a scoring guard than a pure point guard, White became better and better at running Carolina’s offense as the season progressed. He cut down on his turnovers over the season’s last month, posting an excellent assist-to-error ratio of 2.60 in the final seven games of the year. His point-of-attack defense was also above-average, as he worked hard to fight over ball screens and also drew 14 offensive fouls (second on the team to Kenny Williams).

But all numbers aside, White’s enduring legacy as a Tar Heel might be the contagious enthusiasm and energy that he exuded on the court. He played hard, celebrated his teammates’ success, and was incredibly fun to watch (both in style and demeanor). 

82. Brandan Wright (2006-07, PF, 6-9, Nashville, Tenn.)

Peak season: 14.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 64.6 FG%, 56.7 FT%, 63.7 TS%, 2.90 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (1 year): 14.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 64.6 FG%, 56.7 FT%, 63.7 TS%, 3.14 Career WORP, 3.10 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Despite only staying in Chapel Hill for one season, Wright left an imprint on the program. The ’07 ACC Rookie of the Year, Wright also captured the ACC Tournament MVP by scoring 47 points over 3 games while shooting 68.8% from the field. He led the ACC in FG% at 64.6 on his way to a 2nd-team All-ACC selection, doing virtually all of his damage from inside of ten feet (lay-ups, dunks, and a lethal jump hook with either hand). During Roy Williams’ tenure in Chapel Hill, no Tar Heel finished better at the rim (making 84.5% of 181 close attempts) or dunked more frequently (75 dunks, or 2.98 / 40 minutes) than Wright in ’07. He combined freakish length with a freakish ability to convert near the basket. Among Heels with at least 100 made field goals in a career, none has a higher FG% than Wright.

Wright ended his stay at UNC by earning a spot on the East Regional All-Tournament team, highlighted by a 21-point, 9-rebound effort versus USC in the Sweet 16. 

81. Ed Davis (2008-10, C, 6-10, Richmond, Va.)

Peak season (2010): 13.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 57.8 FG%, 65.9 FT%, 60.7 TS%, 3.32 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (2 years): 9.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 54.8 FG%, 62.3 FT%, 57.2 TS%, 4.04 Career WORP, 2.98 WORP / 1,000 minutes

The following data compares Davis (who played a little over a season-and-a-half at UNC before a broken wrist ended his sophomore year and, ultimately, his Carolina career) to one-and-done studs Marvin Williams (No. 96 on the list) and Brandan Wright (No. 82).

• Davis: 22.3 MPG, 15.8 Pts/40, 13.1 Reb/40, 1.2 Asst/40, 0.51 A:TO, 4.3 St+Bl/40, 57.2 TS%, 4.04 Career WORP, 2.98 WORP /1,000 Minutes
• Williams: 22.2 MPG, 18.9 Pts/40, 10.9 Reb/40, 1.2 Asst/40, 0.46 A:TO, 2.6 St+Bl/40, 62.7 TS%, 2.20 Career WORP, 2.76 WORP / 1,000 Minutes
• Wright: 26.7 MPG, 20.5 Pts/40, 8.6 Reb/40, 1.4 Asst/40, 0.63 A:TO, 3.8 St+Bl/40, 63.7 TS%, 3.14 Career WORP, 3.10 WORP / 1,000 Minutes

As seen in the final metric, all three of these big men provided fairly comparable value as Tar Heels in terms of WORP / 1,000 minutes. Davis was clearly the least efficient scorer of the bunch, but made up for it with his superior rebounding and shot-blocking skills. By playing at least a partial sophomore season, Davis gets the slight nod over Wright (who made more of an impact as a freshman). Davis was a key member of the ’09 national championship team, chipping in 11 points and 8 rebounds in 14 minutes in the final versus Michigan State. As a sophomore, he had 10 double-doubles in his 23 games and added 8 games with 4+ blocked shots.    

80. Kendall Marshall (2010-12, PG, 6-4, Alexandria, Va.)

Peak season (2012): 8.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 9.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.48 A:TO, 55.8 TS%, 2.59 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (2 seasons): 7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 8.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 3.01 A:TO, 54.0 TS%, 4.16 Career WORP, 1.98 WORP / 1,000 minutes

With apologies to the sublime Ed Cota (who’s still the flashiest passer in UNC history), Marshall should probably be remembered as the greatest distributor in Carolina history. He averaged 11.1 assists per-40 as a Tar Heel compared to 8.9 per-40 for Cota. Even when adjusted for pace, Marshall dished out dimes at a rate more than 20% higher than Easy Ed. Likewise, his A:TO was a sparkling 3.01 (an ACC record) compared to Cota’s 2.19. While many of Marshall’s passes seemed routine, his ability to anticipate and pass his teammates open was unparalleled. He was also unrivaled as a hit-ahead passer, paired perfectly with an elite rim-running big like Tyler Zeller.

In his very first game following the departure of Larry Drew II, the freshman Marshall dished out 16 assists in 36 minutes against Florida State, adding 9 points, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the program would be in capable hands in his expanded role. Later that season, Marshall had a 15-point, 11-assist double-double against Duke as the Heels moved to 14-2 to clinch the outright ACC title. Later, in the Round of 32, Marshall outplayed Washington’s Isaiah Thomas while posting another double-double with 13 points and 14 assists.

As a sophomore, Marshall played close to a perfect offensive game in a road win against N.C. State. In 38 minutes, he scored 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting (4-of-5 on threes, 4-of-4 on free throws) while posting a flawless 13:0 assist-to-turnover ratio. After scoring 6.2 points per game as a freshman and 6.8 per game through the first 30 games of his sophomore season, Marshall began to break out as a scorer in March 2012. He ended the regular season by dropping 20 at Duke in a dominating road win to (again) clinch the ACC title. He would then go on to score in double-digits in each of his five postseason games, culminating in an 18-point, 11-assist effort versus Creighton (a game in which he broke his wrist in the closing minutes). Over the final six games of his Carolina career, Marshall averaged a double-double with 14.8 points and 10.3 assists. He capped off his sophomore season by winning the Cousy Award as the nation’s top playmaker.

79. King Rice (1987-91, PG, 6-0, Binghamton, N.Y.)

Peak season (1991): 8.2 ppg, 5.9 apg, 2.72 A:TO, 45.7 FG%, 72.5 FT%, 41.3 3Pt%, 57.2 TS%, 2.84 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 6.2 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.19 A:TO, 42.7 FG%, 76.4 FT%, 34.9 3Pt%, 55.1 TS%, 6.40 Career WORP, 2.00 WORP / 1,000 minutes

King Rice’s 2.72 A:TO ratio as a senior in ’91 was the gold standard among true Carolina point guards (a freshman Lebo had a 2.98 as a freshman combo [mainly shooting] guard in ’86) until Ty Lawson demolished it with his 3.48 in ’09. As seen in the following list, his career A:TO holds up well in the pantheon of Carolina point guards, too.

            10 Best Career A:TO for UNC Point Guards

1. Kendall Marshall: 3.01
2. Ty Lawson: 2.78
3. Elliot Cadeau: 2.24
4. Jeff Lebo (combo): 2.21
5. Marcus Paige (combo): 2.20
6. King Rice: 2.192
7. Ed Cota: 2.191
8. Jeff McInnis: 2.18
9. Kenny Smith: 2.06
10. Joel Berry: 2.02

Rice also made 41.3% (26-63) of his 3-pointers as a senior after making 32.2% (49-152) over his first three collegiate seasons. Always a solid on-ball defender, Rice earns bonus points for frustrating a freshman Bobby Hurley to tears (and 10 turnovers in their first match-up). He consistently bested Hurley in their head-to-head match-ups in 1990 and 1991. Rice’s 1991 season is one of the most underrated of any Carolina point guard, and he played a huge role in ending UNC’s Final Four drought that extended from 1983-1990.

78. Kevin Madden (1985-1990, SF, 6-5, Staunton, Va.)

Peak season (1989): 14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 58.8 FG%, 61.0 FT%, 60.5 TS%, 2.43 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 58.1 FG%, 66.2 FT%, 61.3 TS%, 5.87 Career WORP, 2.05 WORP / 1,000 minutes

A powerfully-built wing, Madden did much of his offensive damage on the low block. An efficient scorer who was adept at getting to the rim, Madden made 58.1% of his field goals in his Carolina career. Not a great passer, rebounder, or defender, most of Madden’s value was tied to his scoring prowess. After scoring 14.7 per game as a junior (2nd-team All-ACC), Madden dropped to 10.1 as a senior. He was terrific in the 1989 NCAA Tournament, scoring 18 PPG on 63.2% shooting in UNC’s three games. 

77. Theo Pinson (2014-18, SF/SG/PF, 6-6, Greensboro, N.C.)

Peak season (2018): 29.7 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 56.3 TS%, 2.38 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 seasons): 21.7 mpg, 6.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 52.0 TS%, 4.93 Career WORP, 1.86 WORP / 1,000 minutes

One of the most versatile players in Carolina history, Pinson became the first Tar Heel to ever average 10-5-5 across the points, rebounds, and assists categories (he had 10.3-6.5-5.1 as a senior). Likewise, he became the first player in program history to have 500 rebounds and 410 assists in a career. Pinson’s place on this list is among other four-year wings with stat-stuffing skillsets (Steve Bucknall, Jason Capel, Matt Doherty). He probably had a higher peak value than those Tar Heels, but injuries throughout his career limited his total value.

After scoring no more than 13 points in a single game over his first three seasons, Pinson had 10 games with 15-plus points as a senior, including a trio of 20-pointers. Carolina tweaked its secondary break and freelance motion to take advantage of Pinson’s ability to create off the dribble and make plays from the pinch post. After moving to the ‘4’ in UNC’s small-ball lineup, he became a drastically more effective scorer while maintaining his elite passing skills. Pinson punished Miami with 25 points and 11 rebounds in the ACC Tournament. He also shredded the Syracuse zone in a couple of late-season victories (averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals against the Orange).

Always a clutch performer, Pinson made numerous huge plays during Carolina’s 2017 championship run: most notably, his last-second assist to Luke Maye to beat Kentucky and an assist for a Justin Jackson “and-1” to allow UNC the re-take the lead (which it wouldn’t relinquish) with 1:40 to go in the national title game. He also made big free throws and grabbed key rebounds during the NCAA Tournament march. Over his final two seasons, Pinson knocked down 27-of-30 (90%) of his close-and-late free throws.

While inconsistent and prone to gambling defensively, his versatility also paid huge dividends on that end. He guarded everyone from lottery point guards (De’Aaron Fox in the 2017 Elite 8) to lottery power forwards (Marvin Bagley in 2018), often playing his best in the toughest matchups.

76. Steve Bucknall (1985-89, SG/SF, 6-6, London, England)

Peak season (1989): 13.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.3 apg, 46.2 FG%, 78.5 FT%, 41.9 3Pt%, 60.2 TS%, 2.78 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 7.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.9 apg, 47.8 FG%, 75.5 FT%, 42.3 3Pt%, 57.6 TS%, 5.18 Career WORP, 1.99 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Like Pinson, Bucknall was one of the most versatile players in the program’s history. No other Heel has matched his senior-season line of 13/4/5 in PPG/RPG/APG (Felton had a couple of 12.9/4/5 seasons, McInnis had a 12/4/5, and Calabria had a 12/4/4). He won the team’s Carmichael-Cobb award in 1988, too (for best defender). Bucknall also developed into an excellent perimeter shooter by his senior season (he attempted 148 3s in ’89 after trying just 20 during the first two seasons of the 3-point arc) and had career shooting numbers of 48/76/42. Bucknall was one of six Tar Heels to average in double-digits in 1989 (the only Carolina team ever with six 10+ PPG scorers), earning 2nd-team All-ACC honors that season. Bucknall’s legacy is hampered by UNC’s (relative) lack of postseason success during his tenure. He was an integral part of UNC’s ’89 ACC Tournament championship, and went out in typical Bucknall style with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals in Carolina’s Sweet 16 loss to Michigan in 1989.

75. Jason Capel (1998-2002, SF/SG/PF, 6-8, Fayetteville, N.C.)

Peak season (2001): 11.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 47.0 FG%, 78.5 FT%, 41.8 3Pt%, 61.2 TS%, 2.83 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 12.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 44.7 FG%, 82.3 FT%, 37.5 3Pt%, 58.4 TS%, 5.45 Career WORP, 1.42 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Speaking of versatile contributors, Capel, a four-year starter, played extensively at three different positions while in Chapel Hill. As a freshman in ’99, Capel started at the ‘2’ in a huge (and slow) line-up alongside Okulaja, Lang, and Haywood. With the arrival of Joe Forte in 2000, Capel slid down to his more natural small forward position for the next two seasons. As a senior, he started at the ‘4’ and led the Heels in rebounding in his new role. Capel was the consummate role player who struggled some when asked to be the go-to guy in ’02 (his TS% dropped from 61.2 to 56.6). He did have a couple solid postseason runs for the Heels– averaging 9.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 3.0 APG on his way to South Regional All-Tournament honors in ’00, and 13.0/7.8/4.8 APG in 5 postseason games in 2001 (including a TS% of 68.7 and an A:TO of 4.8). While the 2001 Heels weren’t at their best in March, it was probably the best stretch of basketball in Capel’s UNC career.    

74. Ademola Okulaja (1995-1999, SF/PF, 6-9, Berlin, Germany)

Peak season (1999): 13.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 44.2 FG%, 74.5 FT%, 43.1 3Pt%, 56.7 TS%, 2.33 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 43.8 FG%, 68.0 FT%, 37.4 3Pt%, 54.5 TS%, 5.58 Career WORP, 1.28 WORP / 1,000 minutes

After losing Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, and Shammond Williams following the 1998 season, senior Okulaja stepped up in 1999 with an All-ACC campaign. He scored 10.2 pace-adjusted points per 40 minutes in his first three seasons before spiking that number to 16.5 as a senior. As the last remaining Musketeer, Okulaja delivered one of the great step-up senior seasons in UNC history. He was always a solid defender, tough rebounder (14^th in UNC history with 890), and capable passer. But during his middle two seasons, Okulaja went through a prolonged shooting slump (that he snapped out of in ’99). As a freshman and senior, Okulaja made 46.3% of his field goals, 74.4% of his free throws, and 44.4% of his 3s. But as a sophomore and junior, those percentages dropped to 41.5/60.6/31.4. Okulaja’s 4,390 minutes as a Tar Heel rank seventh in the program’s history.

73. Jawad Williams (2001-05, PF, 6-9, Cleveland, Ohio)

Peak season (2005): 13.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 54.1 FG%, 81.3 FT%, 38.1 3Pt%, 63.6 TS%, 2.06 WORP/ 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 12.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 48.7 FG%, 72.4 FT%, 34.9 3Pt%, 57.1 TS%, 5.48 Career WORP, 1.59 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Never a strong or natural rebounder, post defender, or low-block scorer, Williams battled hard in the paint throughout his UNC career. Although he scored more as a sophomore (14.9 PPG in ’03), his best year was as a senior in ’05. As a key complementary cog in UNC’s championship machine, Williams transformed himself from a volume scorer into an ultra-efficient secondary option. While he scored 25 points in an ’03 ACCT upset of Maryland, his best game as a Heel was saved for the biggest stage. In the ’05 Final Four versus Michigan State, Williams scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting while adding 8 rebounds. This included 12 of UNC’s 33 1st-half points, helping to keep the Heels in the game prior to their 2nd-half explosion. 

72. Matt Doherty (1980-84, SF, 6-8, East Meadow, N.Y.)

Peak season (1984): 9.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.0 apg, 49.4 FG%, 76.3 FT%, 54.5 TS%, 2.36 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 47.7 FG%, 76.1 FT%, 54.5 TS%, 6.31 Career WORP, 1.55 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Despite never making even 3rd-team All-ACC, Doherty was an integral contributor to four Tar Heel teams that won a combined 85% of their games (117-21). He was a steady presence on both ends of the court, and a player who helped out in every phase of the game. His signature moment as a player was probably his last-second 15-footer to send the ’84 Duke game into overtime. The Heels prevailed in the extra session, securing a Senior Day victory for Doherty and Sam Perkins. He also averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the ’84 ACCT, despite a disappointing semifinal loss to Duke (likewise, he poured in 21.5 per game in the ’83 ACCT although the Heels were knocked out in the semis by NC State). Doherty also chipped in 16 points against Alabama in the ’82 Sweet 16, and 13 more versus Villanova in the Elite 8 on the way to UNC’s national title. While his shaky three-year run as UNC’s head coach left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans, this ranking is only considering his playing years.

71. John Henson (2009-12, PF, 6-10, Tampa, Fla.)

Peak season (2012): 13.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.9 bpg, 50.5 TS%, 2.28 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 seasons): 10.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 50.1 TS%, 5.39 Career WORP, 2.08 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Paired alongside Tyler Zeller in the frontcourt, Henson helped to anchor the best interior defenses of the Roy Williams era. While Zeller may have been the rock, Henson was the rim-protecting intimidator. With 279 career blocks, he ranks second to Brendan Haywood (304) in UNC history. In terms of pace-adjusted blocks per 40 minutes, Henson’s 4.15 trail only Warren Martin (4.55) on the all-time list. Henson was also an elite defensive rebounder. He ranked 27^th in the nation in DR% as both a sophomore and junior, grabbing more than a quarter of available opponents’ misses in each of those seasons.

On the offensive end, Henson was a bit of a mixed bag. After a failed experiment on the wing as a freshman, he ended up in the post for most of his Carolina career. Still, those wing tendencies would sometimes reveal themselves, as Henson had a bad habit of attempting fadeaway jumpers and long, catch-and-shoot 2s. When getting the ball in the paint, Henson knew what to do with it. His 153 career dunks place third in the Roy Williams era, and he had a serviceable hook shot with either hand (a truly ambidextrous post finisher). But his love affair with long jumpers led to a relatively poor offensive efficiency. It was further exacerbated by a dreadful career free throw percentage of 48.3% (173rd among 174 Tar Heels with at least 50 all-time makes). Henson did do a much better job of protecting the basketball/limiting turnovers as his career progressed.

Some of his best basketball in Carolina blue came in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. In an opening-round victory over Long Island, Henson scored 28 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. Then, in the Sweet 16 win over Marquette, Henson had a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double in addition to 5 more rejections. His key deflection of an in-bounds pass clinched the Round of 32 escape over Washington, too. Earlier that season, he had a 16-16-6 line against N.C. State. Henson also began the 2012 campaign by blocking nine shots against Michigan State on the U.S.S. Carl Vinson, while frustrating Draymond Green into a 6-of-19 shooting performance.

70. Pete Chilcutt (1987-91, C/PF, 6-10, Eutaw, Ala.)

Peak season (1991): 12.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 53.8 FG%, 76.5 FT%, 57.5 TS%, 3.24 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 8.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 53.4 FG%, 71.0 FT%, 56.7 TS%, 6.35 Career WORP, 2.00 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Chilcutt started his Carolina career off with a bang by hitting a last-second turnaround jumper to send the Hall of Fame Tip-off Classic (versus top-ranked Syracuse) into overtime. UNC won in OT, capping a 14-point comeback without the services of suspended stars J.R. Reid and Steve Bucknall. Upon Reid’s return, Chilcutt eased into a reserve role as a freshman. He moved into the starting line-up as a junior in ’90, averaging 9 points and 6.6 boards per game. Chilcutt added 17 points in the Round of 32 upset of No. 1-seed Oklahoma, although his performance was overshadowed by the heroics of fellow junior Rick Fox. In 1991, seniors Chilcutt, Fox, and King Rice led the Heels back to the Final Four for the first time since 1982. Chilcutt scored a career-high 12 points per game that season, shooting 54% from the field and 77% from the charity stripe.

69. Scott Williams (1986-90, C, 6-10, Hacienda Heights, Calif.)

Peak season (1990): 14.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 55.4 FG%, 61.5 FT%, 57.2 TS%, 3.05 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 10.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 55.1 FG%, 63.3 FT%, 57.3 TS%, 8.77 Career WORP, 2.87 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Here’s some quick trivia: Williams, with 1,508 career points, has scored the most points of any Tar Heel who never made an All-ACC team. His senior season was definitely worthy of All-ACC consideration, though. He was hurt a little by UNC’s (relative) lack of ACC success (8-6, T-3 in the league) and the overall strength of the league that season (the late-80s/early-90s ACC was absolutely loaded, as a quick look at the All-ACC teams of that era will demonstrate). Even without all-conference recognition, Williams’ career holds its own in the UNC pantheon. After playing a key bench role as a freshman in ’87, Williams started in ’88, ’89, and ’90, scoring at least 11 PPG on 55% shooting in each of those seasons. He made the All-ACC Tournament team in 1988, averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks over the three games. He carried that momentum into the ’88 NCAAT, leading the Heels with 19 points against Michigan (in a Sweet 16 win) and 13 against Arizona (in an Elite 8 loss). In 1990, a senior Williams scored 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting to lead UNC to a Senior Day win over Georgia Tech’s “Lethal Weapon 3.” Williams ended his Carolina career on a high note by scoring at least 18 points in three of the team’s four postseason games in ’90. Aggressive and physical, Williams would have had an even better collegiate career without the seemingly constant foul trouble (he averaged 5.8 fouls per 40 minutes, and his 443 career fouls were the most in UNC history until Bacot (451) finally passed him late in his fifth season).

68. Jimmy Black (1978-82, PG, 6-2, The Bronx, N.Y.)

Peak season (1982): 7.6 ppg, 6.3 apg, 2.45 A:TO, 51.3 FG%, 73.8 FT%, 55.6 TS%, 2.99 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 5.7 ppg, 4.1 apg, 50.4 FG%, 73.4 FT%, 56.1 TS%, 5.83 Career WORP, 1.83 WORP / 1,000 minutes

In ’82, senior leader and captain Black had one of the sneakily-best passing seasons in Carolina history. Since 1980, it ranks as the 8th-best UNC season in terms of pace-adjusted assists / 40 minutes (trailing four Cota seasons, two Marshall seasons, and a Quentin Thomas season). Of the top seven seasons, only three maintained a better A:TO than Black’s 2.45 in 1982 (Marshall’s 3.48 in ’12 and 2.50 in ’11, and Cota’s 2.47 in ’00). He made the ’82 East Regional All-Tournament team, averaging 11.3 points, and 6.7 assists over three games. He also shot 14-of-16 from the field with a 3.33 A:TO during that span. Black concluded his Carolina career with a sterling floor game (7 assists, 2 turnovers) against Georgetown’s vaunted pressure defense, as the Heels captured Dean Smith’s first national title. On the defensive side, Black’s ball pressure was among the most disruptive in Carolina history. He notably held Houston star Rob Williams to a 0-of-8 shooting performance in the 1982 Final Four. Though not a volume scorer, he set the tempo on both ends for a couple of the best teams in UNC history.

67. Darrell Elston (1971-74, PG/SG, 6-3, Tipton, Ind.)

Peak season (1974): 15.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.6 apg, 50.0 FG%, 87.1 FT%, 54.7 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 10.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 50.2 FG%, 83.3 FT%, 54.1 TS%

After rarely playing as a sophomore on Carolina’s deep and talented ’72 Final Four squad, Elston moved into the starting line-up as a junior and averaged 10 points and 3 assists. Along with guys like Bill Bunting, Ademola Okulaja, and David Noel, Elston had one of the great senior-season breakouts in UNC history. He increased his PPG to 15.3 and his APG to 5.6 on the way to 2nd-team All-ACC honors. True to his Indiana roots, Elston was a terrific shooter; he made over 50% of his field goals and 83% of his foul shots as a Heel. In three close losses (by a combined 15 points) to NC State—the ’74 national champs—a senior Elston was at his best, averaging 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5 assists.  

66. Steve Hale (1982-86, SG/PG, 6-3, Jenks, Okla.)

Peak season (1986): 11.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.8 spg, 53.2 FG%, 82.5 FT%, 58.8 TS%, 3.04 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.3 spg, 52.0 FG%, 81.3 FT%, 57.8 TS%. 6.06 Career WORP, 1.91 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Hale played most of his minutes at Carolina as a shooting guard. But he also served as a back-up PG in ’83 and ’84 (taking over full time when Kenny Smith went down with a broken wrist in ’84). He also frequently slid down to the ‘3’ in ’86 alongside Smith and freshman Jeff Lebo. A gifted and versatile defender, Hale did a solid job at all three positions on that end of the court. As both a junior and a senior, he received the Carmichael-Cobb award presented to UNC’s best defender. Offensively, Hale was an opportunistic and efficient scorer if not a prolific one. He was also a tremendous passer, decision-maker, and complementary ball-handler, averaging 5 assists per game with an A:TO of 2.12 over his final two seasons. Hale’s ability to handle the ball and feed the post would have made him a fantastic 2-guard in Roy Williams’ up-tempo system.

65. Jeff McInnis (1993-96, PG, 6-4, Charlotte, N.C.)

Peak season (1996): 16.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, 2.18 A:TO, 43.5 FG%, 80.0 FT%, 39.2 3Pt%, 55.4 TS%, 3.04 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.18 A:TO, 45.9 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 39.7 3Pt%, 56.4 TS%, 6.56 Career WORP, 2.39 WORP / 1,000 minutes

A junior McInnis was Carolina’s leading scorer in 1996, taking many of the shots left behind by the departed Stackhouse, Wallace, and Donald Williams. His %Shots (the percentage of the team’s FGAs that a player takes during his minutes on the court) skyrocketed from 18.2 in ’95 to 26.4 in ’96. Correspondingly, his FG% dropped from 49.1 to 43.5. While it’s debatable whether one wants a point guard taking over a quarter of the team’s shots, McInnis still managed to dish out 5.5 assists per game in ’96 (up slightly from his 5.3 in ’95). He ended his UNC career on a high note by averaging 22.3 points over his final four games in Carolina blue, including a 25-point outburst against rival Duke and a 25-point, 11-assist masterpiece in the NCAAT 1st Round versus New Orleans. Few Carolina point guards could score as explosively as McInnis, and he had a very solid (and sometimes spectacular) two-year run as the starter (making an All-ACC team in both his sophomore and junior seasons).

64. Dick Grubar (1966-69, PG, 6-3, Schenectady, N.Y.

Peak season (1969): 13.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 49.7 FG%, 75.5 FT%, 54.1 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 10.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 47.4 FG%, 68.8 FT%, 51.9 TS%

Along with Ed Cota, Grubar is the only Carolina point guard to lead the Heels to three Final Four appearances. He was a big, physical point guard who was known for his outstanding perimeter defense and fierce competitiveness. Not a classical play-making point guard (Carolina often used Charlie Scott—who led the ’69 team in assists— to create from the wing), Grubar broke through as a scorer in his senior season (13.0 PPG on 49.7% shooting after just 8.1 PPG on 42.7% as a junior). After scoring 23 points in the ’69 ACCT semis, Grubar injured his knee in a championship-game victory over Duke, effectively ending his Carolina career. Grubar made the All-ACC Tournament team in ’68, averaging 13.3 points (on 62% from the field), 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as the Heels cut down the nets in Charlotte.  

63. Joe Wolf (1983-87, PF/SF, 6-10, Kohler, Wis.)

Peak season (1987): 15.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 57.1 FG%, 79.3 FT%, 57.5 3Pt%, 63.6 TS%, 3.33 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 55.1 FG%, 76.5 FT%, 57.5 3Pt%, 59.0 TS%, 5.91 Career WORP, 1.85 WORP / 1,000 minutes

After serving as the top frontcourt reserve on a loaded ’84 squad as a freshman, Wolf spent three seasons as a fixture in Dean Smith’s starting line-up. He was solid in both ’85 and ’86 (9.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 54.6 FG%) before exploding into a 1st-team All-ACC player as a senior. A career 77% free-throw shooter, Wolf used his soft perimeter touch to selectively exploit the new 3-point arc in 1987. He made 23 of his 40 3-pointers that season. Wolf was also a fantastic passer for a 6-foot-10 player. He averaged 2.9 APG with a 1.74 A:TO in ’87; for his career, his A:TO was 1.17. Wolf scored 27 points (connecting on 5-of-8 3s) in a double-OT win over Virginia in the ’87 ACCT semis. He made the All-Tournament team that season, averaging 16.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 3.3 APG. Like the rest of the class of ’87, Wolf’s legacy is hurt a bit by the lack of postseason success. Despite two undefeated ACC regular seasons (1984 and 1987), Carolina failed to win an ACC Tournament or advance to a Final Four during Wolf’s four years.

62. Cameron Johnson (2017-19, SF, 6-9, Moon Township, Pa.)

Peak season (2019): 16.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 50.6 FG%, 81.8 FT%, 45.7 3Pt%, 64.8 TS%, 3.41 WORP/ 35 games

Career averages (2 years): 15.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 47.5 FG%, 82.8 FT%, 41.1 3Pt%, 61.1 TS%, 4.83 Career WORP, 2.63 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Quite simply, Johnson had perhaps the greatest shooting season ever by a Tar Heel in 2019. His 96 made 3-pointers were the fourth-most in Carolina history, while his 45.7% from behind the arc was the fifth-highest mark (among Heels with 50 made 3s in a season). He was lethal coming off of screens (54.5% on 33 such 3PtAs), in the halfcourt (48.5% on 101 3PtAs), and from NBA range (48% on 66 3PtAs from 25+ feet). His career 3-point percentage of 41.1 ranks sixth in UNC history (among Heels with at least 100 made 3s), while his 82.8% from the foul line places him 15th.

In addition to his world-class shooting, Johnson made huge defensive strides in 2019. After off-season hip surgery that improved his mobility and lateral quickness immensely, Johnson’s Stop% improved from 54.5 in 2018 to 64.8. He also improved on the defensive glass, rounding out his game to peak as a legitimate first-team All-ACC member and All-American candidate.

Johnson averaged 21 points and 7 rebounds per game against Duke in 2019, including 26 in a road win. He was a remarkably consistent scorer in his final year, tallying double digits in all but two games while registering 19 games of between 17 and 27 points. He also maintained his elite efficiency against top opponents, with an Offensive Rating of 132.5 in ACC games and 126.0 against Pomeroy Tier A competition.

One might be wondering how Johnson can be ranked so much higher than fellow two-year Tar Heel Harrison Barnes (No. 85). Let’s look at a quick comparison of their Carolina careers:

Johnson: 1,838 minutes, 20.3 Pts/40, 7.2 Reb/40, 3.2 Asst/40, 1.3 St/40, 1.80 A:TO, 61.1 TS%, 128.2 ORtg, 4.83 Career WORP, 3.41 Max WORP / 35 season

Barnes: 2,198 minutes, 22.3 Pts/40, 7.5 Reb/40, 1.7 Asst/40, 1.2 St/40, 0.66 A:TO, 52.4 TS%, 109.9 ORtg, 3.39 Career WORP, 1.75 Max WORP / 35 Season

While Barnes played 360 more career minutes and the two had similar per-40 statlines, Johnson’s advantage can be seen in the efficiency numbers like True Shooting Percentage and Offensive Rating. He also had a vastly better assist-to-turnover ratio, fitting more naturally into UNC’s freelance motion than the iso-heavy Barnes. Those efficiency edges are reflected clearly in the WORP numbers, with Johnson producing over 60% more career value and authoring a peak season that was over twice as impactful according to this metric.

61. Danny Green (2005-09, SF, 6-6, North Babylon, N.Y.)

Peak season (2009): 13.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.3 bpg, 47.1 FG%, 85.2 FT%, 41.8 3Pt%, 59.2 TS%, 3.03 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 45.5 FG%, 84.5 FT%, 37.5 3Pt%, 57.4 TS%, 7.51 Career WORP, 2.60 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Despite only starting for a single season as a senior, Green was an outstanding four-year contributor for the Heels. The ultimate stat-sheet stuffer, Green remains the only Heel to end his Carolina career with over 1,000 points (1,368), 500 rebounds (590), 250 assists (256), 150 steals (160), 150 blocks (155), and 150 made 3-pointers (184). He also played in 121 UNC victories—more than any other player in program history. Green, whose pre-tip dancing stole the show from the bench, didn’t take long to make his presence felt on the court, either. In the ’08 regular-season finale at Duke—which featured two 13-2 teams with first place on the line—Green led the Heels to victory with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks in 25 minutes off the bench (he’d go 4-0 at Cameron Indoor in his career). Green earned all-regional honors in the 2009 NCAA Tournament with his typical all-around excellence: averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks in the four regional games. One of the best pure shooters in Carolina history, he’s also one of only five Heels to shoot 85% from the line and 40% from behind the arc in the same season (joining Jeff Lebo (twice), Ranzino Smith, Shammond Williams, and Jason Capel). 

60. Tommy LaGarde (1973-77, C, 6-10, Detroit, Mich.)

Peak season (1977): 15.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 59.3 FG%, 78.2 FT%, 64.5 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 9.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 58.3 FG%, 76.3 FT%, 62.9 TS%

After rarely playing as a freshman in ’74, LaGarde (like so many of Dean Smith’s players) improved steadily throughout his UNC career. And, if not for his season-ending knee injury in 1977 that cost him 13 games, he’d rank a little higher on the list. The Heels might have another championship, too. LaGarde led Carolina with 22 points (while chipping in 11 rebounds) in its Round of 32 loss in the ’76 NCAA Tournament. That type of production would have surely come in handy in the ’77 title loss to Marquette. An incredibly efficient scorer, LaGarde is one of only three members of UNC’s 1,000-point club to shoot at least 57% from the field and 75% from the line in his career (joining Sam Perkins and Dennis Wuycik). LaGarde joined teammates Phil Ford, Walter Davis, and Mitch Kupchak on Coach Smith’s 1976 Olympic team. In typical LaGarde fashion, he scored 40 points (in 6 games) on just 18 FGAs (13-18 from the field, 14-16 from the line) in helping to return the gold medal to the United States.

59. Kennedy Meeks (2013-17, C, 6-10, Charlotte, N.C.)

Peak season (2017): 24.3 mpg, 12.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 57.1 TS%, 3.69 WORP/ 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 21.3 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 57.1 TS%, 10.60 Career WORP, 3.45 WORP / 1,000 minutes 

After three seasons plagued by confounding issues with injuries, conditioning, and effort, Meeks put everything together as a senior to help lead Carolina to a title. He averaged a double-double in UNC’s eight postseason games in 2017, putting up 12.8 points and 11.0 rebounds along with 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals. Meeks also shot 63.5% (40-63) during that run. His signature game in that stretch was a dominating 25-point, 14-rebound double-double against Oregon (and Jordan Bell) in the Final Four. That followed 17 rebounds and four blocks in the Elite 8 win over Kentucky (and Bam Adebayo). While his numbers were down a bit in the title game against Gonzaga, Meeks made a pair of huge defensive plays in the final minute to seal the championship. There’s an incredibly strong case that can be made for Meeks as the 2017 Final Four Most Outstanding Player. He also chipped in with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in the 2016 Final Four contest versus Syracuse.

Always a dominant rebounder, Meeks’ 1,052 career boards rank sixth in UNC history. A force on both backboards, Meeks had three seasons in the national top 50 in OR% and a pair of top-50 campaigns for DR%. Though not an above-the-rim athlete, he had a Block% above 5 in each of his four seasons, and his 154 career blocks are 11th on the all-time list.

While the consistency did not emerge until his final year in Chapel Hill, Meeks always showed flashes of brilliance. Early in his freshman season, he had a 13-point, 12-rebound, 7-assist (including a couple signature long outlet passes) game against Louisville to help the Heels win the Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament. Despite only having seven 20-point games in his career, Meeks had at least one in each of his four seasons. Only Tyler Hansbrough and Armando Bacot (across five seasons) can make that claim among Heels in the Roy Williams/Hubert Davis era. Meeks is a WORP darling, but his lack of accolades (he never made an All-ACC team much less an All-American one) keep him a little lower on the list than his efficiency stats might suggest.

58. Bill Bunting (1966-69, PF, 6-8, New Bern, N.C.)

Peak season (1969): 18.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 59.8 FG%, 82.7 FT%, 64.8 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 11.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 51.4 FG%, 74.0 FT%, 56.3 TS%

Along with classmates Dick Grubar and Rusty Clark, Bunting moved right into the starting line-up as a sophomore in ’67, joining “The L & M Boys” (Bob Lewis and Larry Miller) in bringing Dean Smith his first Final Four appearance. Bunting, a three-year starter, was just a role player in his first two seasons (7.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG) before busting out in his All-ACC senior campaign (18.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG). It wasn’t just a matter of having more opportunities, either: after shooting 44.0% from the field and 66.3% from the line as a sophomore/junior, he improved those percentages to 59.8% and 82.7% in 1969. Bunting’s junior-to-senior PPG increase of +10.1 trailed only Donnie Walsh’s (+10.2) in Carolina history for breakout senior seasons. Bunting was a huge contributor in the ’69 postseason, too, chipping in 16.0 PPG/9.3 RPG in the ACC Tournament, 18.0/8.5 in the East Regional, and 19 and 7 in the Final Four loss to Purdue. While the Class of ’69 never got over the hump in the Final Four, its three consecutive trips there left an indelible mark on the program—especially considering they were the first three of the Dean Smith era.

57. Bill Chamberlain (1969-72, PF/SF, 6-6, New York, N.Y.)

Peak season (1971): 14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 57.2 FG%, 70.7 FT%, 59.9 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 54.0 FG%, 70.2 FT%, 56.9 TS%

Like Tommy LaGarde, Chamberlain earned 2nd-team All-American honors without ever making 1st-team All-ACC. Following in the footsteps of fellow New Yorker Charlie Scott, Chamberlain became the second black player on a varsity basketball team at UNC (pioneer Willie Cooper played on the freshman team in the fall of ’64). A defensive stopper, Chamberlain was the last line of defense in UNC’s vaunted 2-2-1 press. He also held UMass star Julius Erving to 13 points in the 1971 NIT (while scoring 24 himself). The ’71 NIT was Chamberlain’s shining moment as a Heel; he added 19 against Providence and a career-high 34 versus Georgia Tech in the championship game. As a senior in ’72, Chamberlain lost some scoring opportunities to newcomers Bob McAdoo and Bobby Jones (his scoring average dropped from 14.4 to 10.9). But his all-around game remained very strong, warranting an NBA Coaches 2nd-team All-American nod at the end of the year.  

56. Larry Brown (1960-63, PG, 5-11, Long Beach, N.Y.)

Peak season (1962): 16.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 44.1 FG%, 79.5 FT%, 53.2 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 11.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.2 apg, 45.0 FG%, 78.1 FT%, 53.0 TS%

As a sophomore, Brown was a key backcourt piece on Frank McGuire’s 19-4 Heels who won the ACC regular-season crown. With seniors Doug Moe and York Larese carrying the scoring load, Brown scored an efficient 4.5 PPG that season (51.9 FG%, 73.5 FT%) while running the team. As a junior, in Dean Smith’s first year at the helm, Brown’s scoring average exploded to a team-high 16.5 PPG for the undermanned 8-9 Tar Heels. Billy Cunningham joined the varsity in ’63, allowing a senior Brown to once again focus more on playmaking. His career average of 5.2 APG still ranks seventh in school history, and his 13 assists in an ACC Tournament game remains a Carolina record (he added 12 points and 7 rebounds in that game, an opening-round win over South Carolina). A scrappy player (right, Art Heyman?), Brown was adept at drawing fouls (career FTA Rate of 57.8) and shot an excellent 78% from the line in his career. He’d go on to become a Hall of Fame coach, of course, but that’s not factored into this ranking. 

55. Jeff Lebo (1985-89, SG/PG, 6-3, Carlisle, Pa.)

Peak season (1987): 13.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 53.2 FG%, 84.9 FT%, 45.0 3Pt%, 67.9 TS%, 2.42 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 11.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 47.9 FG%, 83.9 FT%, 42.8 3Pt%, 61.7 TS%, 8.61 Career WORP, 2.13 WORP / 1,000 minutes 

Lebo was one of the most consistent four-year performers in Carolina history. In each of his collegiate seasons, Lebo amassed a WORP/35 of between 2.00 and 2.42. Limited physically, he never developed into a superstar or All-American type. But the things Lebo did well (ball protection, decision-making, shooting), he did well from his first day on campus. After playing most of his minutes at the ‘2’ as a freshman and sophomore (in addition to backing up Kenny Smith at the ‘1’), Lebo replaced Smith as the starting point guard in ’88 and ’89. As seen in the list below, Lebo compared favorably in terms of career production to other Tar Heels who played significant minutes at the ‘2’. While his career WORP is fourth on this 15-player list, his peak season is the second-lowest. His relatively low peak value keeps him behind other higher-peak players (like Joe Forte, Rashad McCants, Shammond Williams, et al.) on this list. He’s also hurt a little by his teams’ lack of NCAAT success. Despite never being great, there’s plenty of value in being consistently very good. And that’s the story of Jeff Lebo’s Carolina career.

Career WORP of Selected UNC Shooting/Combo Guards

1. Michael Jordan: 11.45 Career WORP, 4.86 Max WORP / 35, 3107 minutes
2. Marcus Paige: 8.85 Career WORP, 3.06 Max WORP / 35, 4570 minutes
3. Vince Carter: 8.64 Career WORP, 3.98 Max WORP / 35, 2677 minutes
4. Jeff Lebo: 8.61 Career WORP, 2.42 Max WORP / 35, 4048 minutes
5. Hubert Davis: 8.27 Career WORP, 3.72 Max WORP / 35, 2919 minutes
6. Rashad McCants: 7.64 Career WORP, 3.76 Max WORP / 35, 2863 minutes
7. Shammond Williams: 6.98 Career WORP, 3.42 Max WORP / 35, 3191 minutes
8. RJ Davis: 6.83 Career WORP, 3.07 Max WORP / 35, 4508 minutes
9. Wayne Ellington: 6.38 Career WORP, 2.68 Max WORP / 35, 3278 minutes
10. Donald Williams: 6.14 Career WORP, 3.06 Max WORP / 35, 2901 minutes
11. Steve Hale: 6.06 Career WORP, 3.04 Max WORP / 35, 3176 minutes
12. Joe Forte: 5.52 Career WORP, 4.02 Max WORP / 35, 2325 minutes
13. Jason Capel: 5.45 Career WORP, 2.83 Max WORP / 35, 3839 minutes
14. Steve Bucknall: 5.18 Career WORP, 2.78 Max WORP / 35, 2605 minutes
15. Dante Calabria: 4.67 Career WORP, 1.67 Max WORP / 35, 3188 minutes

Shooting the basketball was one area in which Lebo was great. He’s one of only nine Tar Heels to make 200+ threes in a career, and his 42.8% from behind the arc is the best among that group. In fact, it’s the second-best among the 54 Heels with 50+ career threes (bested only by Hubert Davis’s 43.5%). Lebo’s 83.9% career free throw mark is also one of the best in UNC history (8^th among Heels with 50+ made FTs).

54. Donald Williams (1991-95, SG, 6-3, Garner, N.C.)

Peak season (1993): 14.3 ppg, 45.8 FG%, 82.9 FT%, 41.7 3Pt%, 60.6 TS%, 3.06 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 11.8 ppg, 43.3 FG%, 74.5 FT%, 38.6 3Pt%, 55.5 TS%, 6.14 Career WORP, 2.12 WORP  / 1,000 minutes

Williams’ enduring legacy as a Tar Heel will forever be tied to his performance at the 1993 Final Four. Then-sophomore Williams hit 10-of-14 3-pointers en route to 50 points in wins against Kansas and Michigan (5-of-7 from deep with 25 points in each wonderfully-consistent game). His pull-up 3 off the dribble was a thing of beauty—perfect form and indefensible when it was on. Donald Williams trails only another Williams (Scott) for most points ever by a Tar Heel who never made an All-ACC team (1,492). He made up for his lack of ACC accolades by making three NCAA All-Tournament teams, however (two regional and one Final Four). Williams’ UNC career is almost a tale of two shooters. After separating his shoulder as a junior (he also had a stress fracture in his foot that season), Williams’ jumper was never the same. Neither was his confidence. Following up on his legendary Final Four performance, “The Donald” was off to an All-American start in 1994. Through 10 games, he was averaging 20.6 points on 52/84/45 shooting. After missing several games due to his injuries, Williams averaged just 10.4 points on 35/67/24 shooting the rest of the way (in 16 games). An 80+% free-throw shooter before his injury, Williams made 64% from the stripe post-injury (including his senior season). While his Carolina career remains a bit of a “What Could Have Been?” his brilliance under the brightest lights secures his spot in Tar Heel lore. 

53. Luke Maye (2015-19, PF, 6-8, Huntersville, N.C.)

Peak season (2018): 16.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 48.6 FG%, 62.4 FT%, 43.1 3Pt%, 54.7 TS%, 3.56 WORP / 35

Career averages (4 years): 9.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 46.0 FG%, 67.5 FT%, 36.1 3Pt%, 52.7 TS%, 6.88 Career WORP, 2.31 WORP / 1,000 Minutes

Like classmate Kenny Williams, Maye had a 3-point-driven peak season as a junior before regressing a bit as a senior. But considering that peak was at a first-team All-ACC, third-team All-American level, he still remained dangerous in 2019. In fact, Maye became the first Tar Heel of the Roy Williams era (and first since Mitch Kupchak in 1975-76) to average a double-double in consecutive seasons.

Maye’s breakout, of course, was in the 2017 South Regional. He came off the bench to average an ultra-efficient 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in wins over Butler and Kentucky, culminating that performance with an iconic buzzer-beater versus the Wildcats to send UNC to the Final Four and earn himself the region’s Most Outstanding Player award. When the Heels won their sixth NCAA championship a week later, Maye’s status as a Carolina legend was safely secured (though he scored just two points in 23 minutes in the 2017 Final Four).

After scoring 13 points with 7 rebounds off the bench at NC State as a sophomore, he solidified his reputation as a Wolfpack killer as an upperclassman by averaging 29 points and 13 rebounds in four games. That included a trio of 30-10 games, topped by a 33-17 outing in Raleigh as a junior.

A dominant rebounder, especially on the defensive glass, Maye corralled 942 in his Carolina career, the 11th-most in Tar Heel history. But his versatility was highlighted by a couple other career superlatives: a 1.22 assist-to-turnover ratio (the highest all-time among UNC post players) and 104 made 3-pointers (2nd-most to Jawad Williams’ 124 among Heels who played the majority of their minutes as bigs).

52. Brendan Haywood (1997-2001, C, 7-0, Greensboro, N.C.)

Peak season (2001): 12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.6 bpg, 59.2 FG%, 51.6 FT%, 58.0 TS%, 3.62 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 63.7 FG%, 59.4 FT%, 63.4 TS%, 9.13 Career WORP, 2.75 WORP / 1,000 minutes

With apologies to John Henson’s shot-blocking brilliance in 2011 and 2012, Haywood’s senior season (2001) is still Carolina’s gold standard for swatting. Haywood blocked 12.1% of opponents’ 2-pointers, had 5.2 pace-adjusted blocks per 40, and played 27.3 MPG. Henson’s (peak) 2011 numbers were 11.1%, 4.6, and 26.7 (Warren Martin (’86) and Kevin Salvadori (’92) are in the conversation, too, on a per-minute basis—but there’s a big difference between defending the rim for 15 MPG vs. 25+ MPG). While losing Ronald Curry and Joe Forte played a factor, too, the loss of Haywood was the biggest reason why the Heels went from allowing 95.4 points / 100 possessions in 2001 to 108.2 in 2002. Like LaGarde and Chamberlain, Haywood earned 2nd-team All-American status without 1st-team All-ACC recognition. Offensively, Haywood was a super-efficient scorer, mainly by focusing on dunks and lay-ups. He set a school record in 2000 by making 69.7% of his field goals. Without Cota in 2001 to create easy hoops (and as a result of diversifying his low-post game a little), that FG% dropped to 59.2%. He also got progressively worse at the foul line in his three years as a starter (67% in ’99, 60% in ’00, 52% in ’01). Never a fantastic rebounder for his size, Haywood was much-maligned for parts of his Carolina career (fueled, in large part, by the 1-point, 0-rebound egg he laid in 24 minutes against Weber State in the ’99 NCAA Tournament opening-round upset). His best moment as a Heel might have been a 28-point, 15-rebound effort against Missouri in the 2000 NCAA Tournament First Round. As a player who could dominate a game without ever attempting a shot, Haywood’s role as a paint enforcer and rim protector earns him a spot just outside the top 50.

51. Tommy Kearns (1955-58, PG, 5-11, Bergenfield, N.J.)

Peak season (1958): 14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 41.2 FG%, 62.8 FT%, 46.5 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 11.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 41.4 FG%, 66.5 FT%, 47.8 TS%

Kearns averaged 12.8 PPG as the starting point guard for the undefeated ’57 champs. He scored 29 crucial points in an overtime victory against South Carolina to preserve the unblemished record, then added 16 points and 3 assists versus the ‘Cocks in the ’57 ACC championship game (a more convincing 20-point win; the Heels led 50-23 at the half). Kearns was also terrific in the three ’57 East Regional games, averaging 19.0 PPG on 50% shooting. He scored 22 points on 14-of-19 from the line to send the Heels into the Final Four with a win over Syracuse. With the graduation of Lennie Rosenbluth, Kearns took on a bigger scoring role as a senior in ’58. He scored a career-high 14.9 PPG for the 19-7 Heels, including 20 in an ACC Tournament championship game loss to Maryland. Kearns, a 2nd-team All-American in 1957, earned 3rd-team honors following the 1958 season. He was a 1st-team All-ACC selection in both years. While he may be most remembered for taking the opening tip against Kansas’s Wilt Chamberlain (giving up 14 inches in the process), Kearns did plenty of other noteworthy things in the Carolina blue.

50. Rusty Clark (1967-69, C, 6-10, Fayetteville, N.C.)

Peak season (1968): 15.8 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 47.6 FG%, 68.5 FT%, 51.7 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 14.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 51.1 FG%, 69.9 FT%, 55.1 TS%

Dean Smith’s first true big man, Clark (along with classmates Bunting and Grubar) helped put the program over the hump in the post-McGuire era. One of only eight Heels to average a career double-double (Rosenbluth, Brennan, Moe, Cunningham, McAdoo, May, and Bacot were the others), Clark was a consistent contributor on both ends. He saved some of his best performances for the postseason, averaging 15.5 and 13.5 rebounds in the ’67 East Regional (including an 18/18 versus Boston College in the Regional final to secure Smith’s first Final Four trip). Clark followed that up with 19 points (a team high) and 11 boards in a Final Four loss to Dayton. In ’68, Clark racked up six consecutive postseason double-doubles (three in the ACCT, 2 in the East Regional, one in the Final Four) before being dominated by Lew Alcindor in the title game (join the club, Dr. Clark). He was especially good in the two regional games– earning MVP honors by averaging 20 points and 13.5 rebounds (including 22 and 17 against Davidson to clinch UNC’s second straight Final Four trip). In ’69, Clark’s 20 points and 9 rebounds were both team highs in the Final Four loss to Purdue. Never a superstar or go-to scorer, Clark was a consistent producer with a fantastic postseason resume.  

49. Shammond Williams (1994-98, SG, 6-2, Greenville, S.C.)

Peak season (1998): 16.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 48.8 FG%, 91.1 FT%, 40.0 3Pt%, 64.0 TS%, 3.42 WORP  /35 games

Career averages (4 years): 10.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 45.5 FG%, 84.9 FT%, 40.3 3Pt%, 61.5 TS%, 6.98 Career WORP, 2.19 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Despite a laundry list of accolades (one 3rd-team All-American, one 2nd-team All-ACC, one 3rd-team All-ACC, one regional MVP, two regional All-Tournament teams, one ACC Tournament MVP, two All-ACC Tournament teams), Williams is too often remembered for his Final Four shooting woes. And while that’s an unfortunate part of his legacy (3-25 from the field, 2-17 from behind the arc in two Final Four games), it’s important to consider just how crucial Williams was to UNC’s consecutive Final Four runs. Few Tar Heels have made greater freshman-to-senior improvements. From a first-year back-up point guard with a cringe-worthy handle to a confident senior combo guard, Williams’ development was profound. As a freshman/sophomore, his A:TO was 1.08. As an upperclassman, it improved to 1.64. Prior to his 1-of-13 performance against Arizona, Williams had a dominating ’97 postseason run. He averaged 20 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while shooting 50% (9-18) from behind the arc to win the ’97 ACCT MVP. He followed that up with 16.5 PPG and 4.5 APG in the East Regional, including 22 and 6 in the Elite 8 win over Louisville to add the regional MVP to his trophy case. In ’98, he was at it again: 18.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 2.7 APG in the ACCT, followed by 21 PPG and 3 APG in the East Regional (including 32 points (on 6-of-9 3-point shooting) and 5 assists in a Round of 32 overtime victory against UNC-Charlotte). Antawn Jamison won the regional MVP in 1998, but it could have easily been awarded to Williams for the second consecutive year. Throw in Williams’ signature Tar Heel performance—42 points on 16 FGAs (11-16 from the field, 12-12 from the line, 8-11 from deep) in a double-overtime win at Georgia Tech—and it’s clear that his highlights more than overshadow his Final Fours. 

48. Wayne Ellington (2006-2009, SG, 6-4, Wynnewood, Pa.)

Peak season (2009): 15.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 48.3 FG%, 77.7 FT%, 41.7 3Pt%, 60.4 TS%, 2.68 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 14.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 46.3 FG%, 80.9 FT%, 39.7 3Pt%, 57.7 TS%, 6.38 Career WORP, 1.95 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Like Donald Williams, Ellington solidified his place in Carolina history on the Final Four stage. Under the bright lights, he averaged 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while knocking down 8-of-10 3-pointers—a performance that earned him Final Four Most Outstanding Player (although a very strong case could have been made for Ty Lawson, too). In his three years at UNC, Ellington started on teams that won 88% of the time (100-14). For his career, he shot at a 46/81/40 clip—joining Kenny Smith, Ranzino Smith, Shammond Williams, Jimmy Braddock, Hubert Davis, and Jeff Lebo as the only Heels to achieve those percentages across the board. Ellington’s performance in the 2008 ACC Tournament was a prelude of things to come in the ’09 NCAA Tournament. In 3 games, he averaged 19.3 points (shooting 8-of-16 from 3-point range), 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists as the Heels cut down the nets. This included 24/4/4 in the championship game against Clemson (an opponent that he routinely torched, including a memorable game-winning 3 at Littlejohn). With one of the smoothest strokes in Carolina history, Ellington’s big-game heroics vaulted him comfortably into the top 50.

47. Ed Cota (1996-2000, PG, 6-1, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Peak season (1998): 8.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.42 A:TO, 49.3 FG%, 82.4 FT%, 30.3 3Pt%, 58.3 TS%, 3.15 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.19 A:TO, 45.2 FG%, 73.4 FT%, 37.2 3Pt%, 54.4 TS%, 9.97 Career WORP, 2.16 WORP / 1,000 minutes

No one did it with any more style or grace than Ed Cota– his vision, creativity, and handle are unrivaled in UNC hoops history. He also led his teams to three Final Fours as a primary point guard (two as a starter, one as a 6th man/quasi-starter), a feat equaled only by Dick Grubar in Carolina history. Third all-time in assists in NCAA history, Cota amassed some huge counting numbers. Like Jeff Lebo, his career production is more impressive than his peak value (relative to his peers). This is illustrated in the list below: Cota ranks 4th (among the 10 listed PGs—all very good-to-great college players) in career WORP, but falls to 5th in peak-season WORP and 7th in WORP / 1,000 minutes. Cota and Marshall are the undisputed kings of Carolina passers: four of UNC’s top seven seasons in pace-adjusted assists / 40 minutes belong to Easy Ed (along with two from Marshall and one from Quentin Thomas). However, his scoring efficiency took a big hit in the post-Jamison/Carter/Williams years (with a corresponding increase in usage), and defense was never a forte of Cota’s. Combine that with some mediocre Final Four performances (6.5 PPG, 5.5 APG, 1.57 A:TO in 1997-98, plus losing individual battles to Mike Bibby and Andre Miller), and No. 47 looks about right for Cota. High enough to honor his fantastic career and consistency, but not quite in the range of higher-peaked Heels or more impactful two-way players.

Career WORP of Selected UNC Point Guards

1. Ty Lawson: 11.24 Career WORP, 5.47 Max WORP / 35 games, 3.96 WORP / 1000 minutes
2. Kenny Smith: 11.23 Career WORP, 3.59 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.66 WORP / 1000 minutes
3. Joel Berry: 10.05 Career WORP, 3.10 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.53 WORP / 1000 minutes
4. Ed Cota: 9.97 Career WORP, 3.15 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.16 WORP / 1000 minutes
5. Derrick Phelps: 9.19 Career WORP, 3.32 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.84 WORP / 1000 minutes
6. Marcus Paige: 8.85 Career WORP, 3.06 Max WORP / 35 games, 1.94 WORP / 1000 minutes
7. Raymond Felton: 8.41 Career WORP, 3.52 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.46 WORP / 1000 minutes
8. Jeff McInnis: 6.56 Career WORP, 3.04 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.39 WORP / 1000 minutes
9. King Rice: 6.40 Career WORP, 2.84 Max WORP / 35 games, 2.00 WORP / 1000 minutes
10. Kendall Marshall: 4.16 Career WORP, 2.59 Max WORP / 35 games, 1.98 WORP / 1000 minutes

46. Derrick Phelps (1990-94, PG, 6-3, Pleasantville, N.Y.)

Peak season (1993): 8.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.3 spg, 45.7 FG%, 67.5 FT%, 31.3 3Pt%, 51.9 TS%, 3.32 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.9 spg, 44.8 FG%, 71.8 FT%, 32.2 3Pt%, 53.2 TS%, 9.19 Career WORP, 2.84 WORP/ 1,000 minutes

Phelps was one of the truly elite defenders in Carolina history, winning three straight Carmichael-Cobb awards from ’92-’94 (no easy task with George Lynch, also a top-notch defender, on the roster for two of those years). Like Cota (passing), Phelps (defense) had one truly extraordinary talent. He gets the (slight) nod due to the rest of his game being slightly better than the rest of Cota’s game. After backing up King Rice as a freshman in ’91 (and playing about 10 MPG during UNC’s Final Four run), Phelps moved into the starting line-up permanently in ’92. In February of that season, he set a UNC record with 9 steals against Georgia Tech. He also added 11 assists in that game, demonstrating how profoundly he could affect the outcome on both ends without scoring (he scored 5 points on 5 FGAs in that game). Phelps steered the Heels to a title in ’93 in his typical fashion—no gaudy stats, just game-changing contributions on both ends (like locking down Cincinnati’s Nick Van Exel in the second half of the Elite 8 contest). As a senior, Phelps made 2nd-team All-ACC, then All-ACC Tournament team by averaging 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 3.0 steals in three UNC wins. His career ended in a disappointing manner as he suffered a concussion after a flagrant foul by BC’s Danya Abrams. Phelps played 14 minutes in that Round of 32 loss before being injured.

45. George Karl (1970-73, PG/SG, 6-2, Penn Hills, Pa.)

Peak season (1973): 17.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.8 apg, 50.1 FG%, 76.1 FT%, 54.6 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 13.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.2 apg, 51.2 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 56.2 TS%

Karl made an All-ACC team in each of his three years on the varsity (two 2nds and a 1st). Along with backcourt mate (and fellow Western Pa. native) Steve Previs, Karl gave Dean Smith two aggressive and tenacious defenders to set the tempo with all-out hustle and floor burns. After being a 3rd or 4th option in ’71 and ’72, Karl became the team’s leading scorer as a senior in ’73. He also led the team in assists that season on his way to 1st-team All-ACC. Karl made the All-ACC Tournament team in ’72, averaging 13 points and 3.5 assists. He followed that up with a team-high 17 PPG in the East Regional to earn another All-Tournament honor. Karl capped off his stellar ’72 postseason run by averaging 13.5 points and 4.0 assists in two Final Four contests (including the dreaded “National Third Place” game). Like Larry Brown, Karl became a Hall-of-Fame-caliber branch of Dean Smith’s coaching tree (although his coaching success did not influence his ranking on this list).  

44. Lee Shaffer (1957-60, PF, 6-7, 220, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Peak season (1960): 18.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 43.6 FG%, 78.6 FT%, 48.8 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 14.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 44.4 FG%, 76.7 FT%, 49.8 TS%

In his first year on the varsity in 1958, a sophomore Shaffer averaged 11.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and shot 74.1% from the line. Those numbers improved across the board in each of the next two seasons (13.2/7.1/77.1, 18.2/11.2/78.6), culminating in ACC Player of the Year and 1st-team All-American honors in ’60. After a rough start to his ACC Tournament career (4.7 PPG on 31.6% from the field in ’58), Shaffer played extremely well in Raleigh (the annual site of the ACCT in those days). In ’59, he averaged 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds in three ACCT games (including 21 and 21 in the 1st round versus Clemson). He was even better as a senior, averaging 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in two games. Shaffer made the All-Tournament team in both of those seasons. At a solidly-built 220 pounds (quite big for the late-‘50s), Shaffer combined physicality, skill, and a soft shooting touch. While he’s probably the least heralded of Carolina’s ACC POYs (a group that also includes Rosenbluth, Brennan, Cunningham, Miller, Kupchak, Ford, Jordan, Jamison, Forte, Hansbrough, Lawson, Zeller, Jackson, and RJ Davis), Shaffer has earned his place among the program’s legends.

43. Hubert Davis (1988-92, SG, 6-4, Burke, Va.)

Peak season (1992): 21.4 ppg, 50.8 FG%, 82.8 FT%, 42.9 3Pt%, 63.8 TS%, 3.72 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 11.8 ppg, 49.8 FG%, 81.9 FT%, 43.5 3Pt%, 62.4 TS%, 8.27 Career WORP, 2.83 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Davis’ 1992 season is one of the best in Carolina history to not warrant 1st-team All-ACC status. The ’92 ACC was historically strong– Hubert finished sixth in All-ACC voting behind Christian Laettner, Walt Williams, Tom Gugliotta, Rodney Rogers, and Bryant Stith; he was just ahead of Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, and Sam Cassell. Lots of high-lottery talent on that list; for the sake of this analysis, we can consider Davis’ ’92 senior 1st-team caliber. In fact, as the table below shows, it was on par with J.J. Redick’s much-publicized 2006 campaign that won both ACC and National Player of the Year accolades. Redick shot a little more and scored a little more (without sacrificing much efficiency compared to Davis); Davis was more valuable from a WORP perspective due primarily to the relative strength of the league in 1992 versus 2006. Davis had a terrific ’91 postseason as a junior. He made All-ACC Tournament team by scoring 13.7 PPG on 7-of-11 3-point shooting for the victorious Heels. Davis followed that up by averaging 17.8 PPG on 11-of-19 3-point accuracy in the East Regional. In the Final Four against Kansas, Davis led Carolina with 25 points. In the eight postseason games in ’91, Davis shot an amazing 58.8% from behind the arc (20-32). He also shot 95% from the line with a TS% of 71.0. Had Carolina found a way to cut down the nets, he would surely be remembered in the same rarefied postseason air as fellow 2s Donald Williams and Wayne Ellington. Davis made another All-ACC Tournament team in ’92, averaging 23.3 points over three games (including 28 in the semis against FSU). His postseason magic ran out in the ’92 NCAA Tournament; Davis made 32.7% of his field goals, including 7.1% (1-14) from behind the arc in three games.

Davis vs. Redick: Senior-Year Comparison (all numbers paced-adjusted)

Davis (1992): 24.5 Pts/40, 2.6 Reb/40, 1.8 Asst/40, 1.16 A:TO, 16.4 FGA/40, 63.8 TS%, 3.72 WORP / 35

Redick (2006): 28.4 Pts/40, 2.1 Reb/40, 2.8 Asst/40, 1.06 A:TO, 19.0 FGA/40, 63.0 TS%, 3.46 WORP / 35

42. Bob McAdoo (1971-72, C, 6-9, Greensboro, N.C.)

Peak season (1972): 19.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 51.6 FG%, 70.7 FT%, 54.9 TS%

Career averages (1 year): 19.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 51.6 FG%, 70.7 FT%, 54.9 TS%

Despite only staying in Chapel Hill for one season (after arriving as a junior from Vincennes Junior College), McAdoo made a huge impact on the program. He earned both 1st-team All-ACC and 1st-team All-American status in his only year on campus, and helped lead the Heels to the Final Four by winning ACC Tournament MVP (15 PPG and 7.5 RPG for a balanced UNC attack) and a spot on the East Regional All-Tournament team (14 PPG and 11 RPG). McAdoo saved some of his best performances of his career for the Final Four, though. In the national semis against FSU, he scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds before fouling out in 28 minutes. Had McAdoo been able to stay on the court of a few extra minutes, it’s likely that Carolina’s comeback against the ‘Noles would have been successful. In the now-defunct national 3rd-place game, McAdoo carved up Louisville with 30 points and 19 rebounds. He shot 56% from the field and 91% from the line during the two Final Four contests. A true inside-out threat (and a revolutionary big man in that regard), McAdoo didn’t always get to the line as much as a dominant post player should (FTA Rate of 35.5). While this hurt his scoring efficiency a little, there’s no denying that McAdoo was one of the best pure scorers to ever step foot on campus. His brief collegiate career keeps him lower on the list, but McAdoo’s peak was undeniably brilliant.

41. J.R. Reid (1986-89, PF/C, 6-9, Virginia Beach, Va.)

Peak season (1988): 18.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 60.7 FG%, 68.0 FT%, 63.1 TS%, 3.12 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 16.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 60.1 FG%, 66.8 FT%, 62.3 TS%, 8.01 Career WORP, 2.87 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Like (a better) Jeff Lebo, Reid didn’t have a true peak season at Carolina. He came into college as a physically-mature and polished contributor, and didn’t make huge developmental strides as a Heel (his WORP / 35 by year were: 3.00, 3.12, 2.58). With his NBA-ready body and advanced post footwork, Reid was adept at drawing contact in the paint. His career FTA Rate (59.2), while not Hansbroughian, is still sixth among UNC’s 81 1,000-point scorers. He had some injury problems (most notably a stress-fractured foot that cost him the first nine games of his junior season) and off-court issues (an assault charge that led to his Hall of Fame Tip-off Classic suspension, and a missed curfew that led to his suspension for the 1989 NCAA Tournament Round of 32 game vs. UCLA) that marred his Carolina legacy a little. On the court, though, Reid was a steady and productive player, and someone who could rise to the occasion in a big game. In ’87, he had one of the best postseason runs of any Carolina freshman in history (topped, probably, by only Ford in ’75 and O’Koren in ’77)– highlighted by 27 points vs. Michigan and 31 vs. Notre Dame (on 15-of-18 shooting) in consecutive NCAAT games. Then, in ’88, Reid averaged 17.6 points and 10.9 boards in seven postseason contests. He capped off his postseason career by winning the 1989 ACC Tournament MVP, averaging 16/8 and leading the Heels to a championship-game victory over Danny Ferry and Duke (Ferry was Reid’s arch-nemesis—this might have been the peak of the rivalry, at least from a mutual animosity standpoint; these teams hated each other and the battles were fierce). He also made a third career all-regional team in ’89 (despite the UCLA suspension), averaging 22 points and 8 rebounds in the Southeast Regional (including 26 and 6 in a Sweet 16 loss to Michigan). Although he never made a Final Four, Reid battled valiantly in his postseason career as a Tar Heel.

40. Rashad McCants (2002-05, SG/SF, 6-4, Asheville, N.C.)

Peak season (2004): 20.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 47.9 FG%, 74.8 FT%, 40.8 3Pt%, 59.0 TS%, 3.76 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 17.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 48.6 FG%, 72.1 FT%, 41.5 3Pt%, 59.7 TS%, 7.64 Career WORP, 2.67 WORP / 1,000 minutes

McCants exploded onto the college basketball landscape like a firecracker, scoring 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting in his first game as a Tar Heel. Carolina defeated Penn State by 30 that night in the Preseason NIT, signaling to the rest of the country that they were back after the 8-20 debacle in 2002. The next week at Madison Square Garden, he scored 25 against No. 2 Kansas and 18 against Stanford as the young Heels captured the title. Despite that red-hot start, McCants’ UNC career/”jail” sentence wasn’t all lollipops and puppies. He butted heads with Matt Doherty (who was fired after the ’03 season), checked out mentally for stretches of time, played generally lackadaisical defense, and was slow to buy into everything Roy Williams was selling.

Still, McCants was one of the most brilliant and versatile scorers to ever pass through Chapel Hill. He’d take smaller guards into the post, beat slower forwards off the dribble, and rain threes over everyone with textbook form. McCants’ career 3Pt% of 41.5 ranks fourth in team history (trailing Hubert Davis, Jeff Lebo, and Reyshawn Terry). His 20-PPG season in 2004 is one of only eight in Carolina history since 1970 (joining Hansbrough (twice), Jamison, Forte, H. Davis, RJ Davis, and Ford in that elite club). McCants’ performance in the ’05 national championship game was a microcosm for his collegiate career. He poured in 14 huge 1st-half points in helping the Heels to a 13-point lead before going scoreless in the 2nd half as the team held on for dear life. While he’s persona non grata for many Carolina fans due to post-basketball incidents, there’s no denying that McCants was one of the most gifted pure scorers in the program’s history.

39. Doug Moe (1958-61, PF, 6-5, 205, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Peak season (1961): 20.4 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 40.6 FG%, 69.1 FT%, 47.0 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 16.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 40.6 FG%, 68.0 FT%, 47.5 TS%

Moe was a two-time All-American on some terrific Tar Heel teams under Frank McGuire (57-15, 3 regular-season titles in his 3 years). A hard-nosed battler in the paint, Moe’s 14.0 rebounds per game in ’61 remains the 4th-highest single-season average in UNC history (trailing three different Billy Cunningham seasons—no other Heel had a campaign with more than 11.7 RPG). Academic ineligibility cost him the first semester (12 of 24 games) of his sophomore season. And being linked to the point-shaving scandal that ran rampant in early-60s college basketball doesn’t help Moe’s legacy either. On the court, his ranking is suppressed some by his lack of scoring efficiency. Even for his era (lower FG%’s, higher rebounding figures), Moe was an inefficient scorer (career FG% of 40.6, career TS% of 47.5). Despite these warts on his resume, Moe was one of the best players in the country who played on some of the nation’s top teams. That’s the recipe for a spot in the top half of the Carolina top 100.

38. Rick Fox (1987-91, SF, 6-7, Nassau, Bahamas)

Peak season (1991): 16.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.0 spg, 45.3 FG%, 80.4 FT%, 34.2 3Pt%, 56.7 TS%, 4.66 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 12.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 51.8 FG%, 75.7 FT%, 38.8 3Pt%, 60.9 TS%, 9.81 Career WORP, 3.09 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Fox was a fantastic all-around wing at Carolina, contributing as a scorer, rebounder, playmaker, and defender (won the team’s Carmichael-Cobb award in 1991). His All-ACC 1991 season was instrumental in ending Dean Smith’s eight-year Final Four drought. Fox’s game-winner in the 1990 Round of 32 upset against top-seeded Oklahoma is one of the great shots in Carolina history. It capped off a 23-point performance for Fox in that game. His overall brilliance was again on display in the ’91 ACC Tournament. Fox averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 3 games, highlighted by 25/6/3 in a championship-game drubbing of Duke (96-74). It was more of the same in the East Regional—averages of 13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.3 steals on the way to all-regional honors. Even in the ’91 Final Four—remembered by most for Fox’s cold shooting (5-of-22, including 0-of-7 behind the arc)– he chipped in 9 rebounds and 7 assists. After shooting 43.9% on 3-pointers with a TS% of 63.4 as a sophomore and junior, Fox slumped to 34.2% and 56.7% in ’91. Despite his drop in efficiency as a senior (and a proclivity for turnovers that plagued him his whole career), Fox’s ability to positively affect the game in so many ways earned him spot No. 38 in the top 100.

37. RJ Davis, 2020-current, PG/SG, 6-0, White Plains, NY

Peak season (2024): 21.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.35 A:TO, 42.8.0 FG%, 87.3 FT%, 39.8 3Pt%, 56.9 TS%, 3.07 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 15.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.77 A:TO, 41.9 FG%, 85.8 FT%, 37.2 3Pt%, 55.1 TS%, 6.83 Career WORP, 1.55 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Davis began his Carolina career primarily as an undersized ‘2’ alongside classmate Caleb Love. In one of Hubert Davis’ first big moves as a head coach, he moved RJ onto the ball during the 2021 offseason. Aided by more ball-screen offense in the Coach Davis era, both Love and Davis (the Heels’ best pick-and-roll decision maker) had breakout sophomore campaigns that fueled a late-season charge culminating in an appearance in the national championship game. Davis had some key moments in that 2022 tournament run: 12 assists against Marquette, 30 points in an upset over top-seeded Baylor, and 12 rebounds in a title-game loss to Kansas.

Davis has steadily improved as a scorer during his time in Chapel Hill: 8.4 PPG as a freshman, 13.5 as a sophomore, 16.1 as a junior, and 21.2 as a senior. Just as impressively, his scoring efficiency has risen each season (with year-over-year TS%’s of 47.5, 55.0, 56.7, and 56.9). Likewise, he has more than doubled his A:TO from 1.04 as a freshman to 2.35 as a senior.

Moved back to the ‘2’ with the arrival of Elliot Cadeau, his 2024 season was among the greatest of all-time for a Carolina shooter. He joined Justin Jackson as one of only two Heels to connect on 100+ 3-pointers, shattering the record with 113. With a 3Pt% of 39.8 and a FT% of 87.3, Davis also nearly joined the five Heels who have shot 85% from the line and 40% from behind the arc in the same season (Jeff Lebo (twice), Ranzino Smith, Shammond Williams, and Jason Capel). Davis’ 21.2 PPG in ’24 were the most by a Carolina player since Hansbrough’s 22.6 in 2008, and the most by a UNC guard since Hubert’s 21.4 in 1992. That scoring barrage included a quartet of 30-point games, topped by a 42-point explosion against Miami. On his way to UNC’s Smith Center scoring record, Davis connected on a symmetric 7-of-11 2-pointers and 7-of-11 3-pointers (while adding 7-of-9 free throws). Topping the league in points, Davis earned ACC Player of the Year along with first-team All-American honors.

A comparison of the Hubert and RJ senior seasons show that, while the younger Davis was a better rebounder and playmaker, his coach scored more efficiently (and at a nearly identical rate).

Hubert vs. RJ: Senior-Year Comparison (all numbers pace-adjusted)
Hubert Davis (1992): 33.2 MPG, 21.4 PPG, 24.5 Pts/40, 2.6 Reb/40, 1.8 Asst/40, 1.16 A:TO, 16.4 FGA/40, 63.8 TS%, 3.72 WORP / 35
RJ Davis (2024): 34.8 MPG, 21.2 PPG, 24.8 Pts/40, 4.2 Reb/40, 4.1 Asst/40, 2.35 A:TO, 19.2 FGA/40, 56.9 TS%, 3.07 WORP / 35

This place on the list might seem a bit low for a player with Davis’ credentials (and he will certainly make a healthy leap if he even approaches his ’24 campaign as a super-senior). But he’s held back for a few key reasons: 1.) a historically weak (by its lofty standards) ACC in recent years; 2.) some size-related defensive shortcomings; 3.) a (relative) lack of team success; and 4.) some shooting woes on the biggest stages (he is a combined 9-of-37 from the field, including missing all 14 3s, in NCAA Tournament losses to Kansas in ’22 and Alabama in ’24).

36. Justin Jackson (2014-17, SF, 6-8, Tomball, Texas)

Peak season (2017): 32.0 mpg, 18.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.66 A:TO, 105 made 3s on 37.0% shooting, 58.5 TS%, 3.19 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 seasons): 29.1 mpg, 13.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.94 A:TO, 54.5 TS%, 7.91 Career WORP, 2.30 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Jackson started in his very first game as a Tar Heel, becoming a solid contributor right away. Poor 3-point shooting held him back in his first two seasons in Chapel Hill, however, as Jackson made 29.7% (63-212) from behind the arc as a freshman and sophomore. That all changed as a junior, though, with Jackson connecting on a then-program-record 105 threes at a 37.0% clip on his way to earning ACC Player of the Year. After notching only a combined five 20-point games in his first two campaigns, Jackson exploded for 19 of them as a junior while averaging 18.3 points per game. He could do more than score, though: Jackson joins Rick Fox, Joel Berry and RJ Davis as the only UNC players with 1,600 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, and 150 made threes in their careers. On the other end of the court, his remarkable defensive run was one of the primary reasons why Carolina cut down the nets in 2017. Always a solid but unspectacular defender, Jackson turned on a postseason defensive switch like few others in program history, turning into a true shut-down wing (if only for a few weeks during his final month in uniform).

Speaking of the 2017 title run, Jackson put up healthy numbers throughout the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals, including 24/5/5 against Butler in the Sweet 16 and 22 versus Oregon in the national semifinals. Despite only making 7-of-31 (22.6%) threes in the last four Tournament games (including 0-9 in the title game), Jackson’s ability to score in other ways made him a consistent offensive threat. He made 21-of-36 2-pointers in that span, plus shot 24 free throws. Jackson, though best known for his floater, was also a sneaky cutter and dangerous transition scorer. While overshadowed by Malik Monk’s 47-point explosion, Jackson scored 34 points in a December 2016 shootout loss to Kentucky in Las Vegas—the only 30-point outing of his Carolina career.

35. Tyler Zeller (2008-12, C, 7-0, Washington, Ind.)

Peak season (2012): 16.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 61.6 TS%, 3.43 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 seasons): 12.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 58.9 TS%, 8.01 Career WORP, 2.97 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Like Jackson, Zeller’s UNC career culminated in an ACC Player of the Year award. After a broken wrist robbed him of most of his freshman year (he played sparingly in Carolina’s run to the 2009 title), Zeller played a key role off the bench in 2010. But it wasn’t until his junior season that he truly broke out. In an early-season win against Kentucky that year, Zeller exploded for 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks without committing a turnover. He also hit all 10 of his free throws in the game’s final five minutes—three of which tied the game, and two of which gave the Heels the lead. Zeller’s “close-and-late” production in 2011 was among the best of the Roy Williams era. In 81 clutch minutes that season, he scored 61 points (30.1 / 40) with a TS% of 75.7 (18-27 from the field, 25-28 from the line). His 2011 NCAA Tournament run was also among the best of the Williams era. In four Tournament games, Zeller averaged 25.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. He shot 59.3% from the field and 84.6% from the line on nearly 10 FTAs per game.

Coming off that red-hot stretch to end his junior season, Zeller was consistently excellent as a senior. Though overshadowed on the defensive end by John Henson’s prolific shot-blocking, Zeller actually graded out a little higher in my defensive charting metrics (both were elite on that end). In addition to being an above-average shot-blocker himself, Zeller also drew charges, fronted the post for steals/forced turnovers, and set textbook walls after making timely help rotations. An Academic All-American off the court, Zeller’s intelligence was also very evident as a paint defender. On his Senior Night against Maryland, Zeller posted 30 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. He also channeled his inner Hansbrough by earning 23 trips to the foul line. In the Sweet 16 victory over Ohio, Zeller put up a 20-point, 22-rebound effort, while adding 4 blocks. Though the injury-plagued 2012 Heels were not able to make the Final Four, Zeller did everything in his power to get them there.

34. Vince Carter (1995-98, SF/SG, 6-6, 190, Daytona Beach, Fla.)

Peak season (1998): 15.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 59.1 FG%, 68.0 FT%, 41.1 3Pt%, 65.9 TS%, 3.98 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 54.7 FG%, 70.5 FT%, 36.8 3Pt%, 62.2 TS%, 8.64 Career WORP, 3.23 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Carter’s inclusion on this list could probably be justified merely by linking to one of his Carolina highlight videos. But it takes more than ridiculous dunking ability to make one a top 100 Tar Heel. Although he was a third scoring option (behind Jamison and Shammond Williams) as a sophomore and junior, Carter thrived in that role by putting up phenomenal efficiency numbers. After shooting 34% behind the arc in his first two seasons, Carter improved to 41% as a junior. And, after being frequently benched by Dean Smith as a freshman for defensive lapses, Carter turned into a lock-down defender by ’98. He could defend four positions with his athleticism, combining fundamental aptitude (won the Carmichael-Cobb in ’98) with otherworldly physical gifts. He also combined highlight-reel plays with great decision-making. Carter’s A:TO as a Tar Heel was 1.60—improving to 1.80 over his final two seasons. He very rarely turned the ball over or made careless plays. While Carter would sometimes defer to others on the offensive end, he became more aggressive when the stakes were high. He scored 18 in a ’97 Elite 8 win against Louisville, before leading the Heels with 21 in the Final Four loss to Arizona. In the 1998 postseason, he scored 20+ points in three of Carolina’s last four games (after reaching that mark just four times in the first 34 games), including a team-high 21 against Utah in another Final Four loss. While the Final Four failures in ’97 and (especially) ’98 were painful for UNC fans, Carter should be remembered for rising to the occasion in both games.

33. Joe Forte (1999-2001, SG, 6-4, Greenbelt, Md.)

Peak season (2001): 20.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 spg, 45.0 FG%, 85.3 FT%, 37.7 3Pt%, 54.6 TS%, 4.02 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (2 years): 18.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg, 45.4 FG%, 81.0 FT%, 36.8 3Pt%, 54.4 TS%, 5.52 Career WORP, 2.37 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Forte had one of the greatest debuts in Carolina history, knocking down a 3-pointer less than 10 seconds into his collegiate career. He’d score 24 in that game on 9-of-12 shooting (vs. USC at the Maui Invitational), earn MVP of the Maui Invitational, and keep pouring in the points throughout his two-year stint as a Tar Heel. As a freshman, Forte won MVP of the South Regional by averaging 20.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in the four games. That included 22 against Tennessee in the Sweet 16 and 28 (of the team’s 59) in an Elite 8 victory over Tulsa. As a sophomore, Forte was the ACC co-Player of the Year and a 1st-team All-American. His signature game was probably the 24-point, 16-rebound, 6-assist masterpiece in a road upset of No. 2 Duke. He also averaged 24.5 points in two wins over Maryland, a Final Four team in 2001. After reaching No. 1 in the country, the ’01 Heels self-destructed to end the season. Forte is responsible for some of that poor finish—for both on-court and off-court/locker room reasons. In an ACCT title loss to Duke and an NCAAT Round of 32 loss to Penn State, Forte averaged 10 PPG on 25.0% shooting from the field. He entered the NBA after his sophomore season, and the ’02 Heels clearly missed his presence on the court.   

32. Marcus Paige (2013-17, PG/SG, 6-2, Marion, Iowa)

Peak season (2014): 35.6 mpg, 17.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.96 A:TO, 86 made 3s at 38.9%, 59.2 TS%, 3.06 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 seasons): 32.4 mpg, 13.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 2.20 A:TO, 299 made 3s at 37.5%, 55.3 TS%, 8.85 Career WORP, 1.94 WORP / 1,000 minutes

After Kendall Marshall’s surprise departure following the 2012 season, Paige was thrown immediately into the fire as UNC’s starting point guard. He finished strong in an up-and-down freshman campaign, giving Carolina fans a glimpse of what was to come. Paige’s true coming-out party was early in his sophomore season during the Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament in Connecticut. In the two games against Richmond and Louisville (the defending champs), Paige combined for 58 points on 60% (15-25) from the field, 64% (9-14) from behind the arc, and 95% (19-20) from the line. In the championship game versus Louisville, Paige scored 32 points on just 12 FGAs on his way to a first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American year. Later that season, he’d have his signature performance in a game at NC State. Paige hit a career-high seven threes in Raleigh, going shot-for-shot with Wolfpack star T.J. Warren (Warren had 36 points; Paige had 35). Ten of Paige’s points came in the final 2:37 of overtime, including the game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left on the clock. In 2015, Paige would have another near-perfect performance against the ‘Pack: 23 points, 9 assists, 4 steals, and 0 turnovers, while making all five of his 3-pointers and all six of his free throws.

As a senior, Paige continued to deliver signature games. Though overshadowed by Brice Johnson’s 39-point, 23-rebound effort, he scored 30 points at Florida State while knocking down five threes. Then, in the national championship game versus Villanova, Paige scored 21 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists (against just a single turnover). He scored eight of those points in the final 95 seconds to help erase a six-point deficit, tying the game at 74 on a miraculous double-clutch three with under five seconds to play. If not for Kris Jenkins’ subsequent game-winning buzzer-beater, Paige’s shot would have lived in the pantheon of all-time great Carolina hoops. As it stands, there are still very few UNC baskets that can top it in terms of degree of difficulty in a do-or-die situation. For his career, Paige was an incredible clutch performer. He scored 33.3 points / 40 in his 283 “close-and-late” minutes at Carolina, shooting 40.0% on threes and 88.4% at the line with a TS% of 64.1 in the clutch. In the Roy Williams era, there’s no Tar Heel that can match Paige’s career clutch stat line. 

As a four-year starter, Paige also had plenty of time to accumulate stats (his 4,570 career minutes are third only to Armando Bacot’s 4,782 and Ed Cota’s 4,631). He and Phil Ford are the only two Tar Heels to have at least 1,800 career points and 600 career assists. Paige is also one of only two ACC players with 1,800 points, 500 assists, 300 rebounds, 275 made 3s, and 200 steals in a career.

31. Joel Berry (2014-18, PG, 6-0, Apopka, Fla.)

Peak season (2017): 30.4 mpg, 14.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.92 A:TO, 88 made 3s at 38.3%, 56.7 TS%, 3.11 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Career averages (4 seasons): 27.6 mpg, 12.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 2.02 A:TO, 266 made 3s at 36.6%, 55.3 TS%, 10.00 Career WORP, 2.52 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Berry and Paige, who shared the starting backcourt together for two seasons, had very similar Carolina careers. Let’s take a look at each’s pace-adjusted per-40 stat line:
Berry: 27.6 mpg, 18.3 Pts/40, 4.1 Reb/40, 4.5 Asst/40, 1.7 St/40, 2.02 A:TO, 47.3 2Pt%, 36.6 3Pt%, 83.3 FT%, 55.3 TS%
Paige: 32.4 mpg, 16.1 Pts/40, 3.5 Reb/40, 5.3 Asst/40, 1.8 St/40, 2.20 A:TO, 44.6 2Pt%, 37.5 3Pt%, 84.4 FT%, 55.3 TS%

As seen above, Berry was the slightly better scorer (higher volume on identical efficiency—Berry was a better 2-point shooter, while Paige was a bit better on 3s and free throws), while Paige was the better facilitator. Paige also played nearly 600 more career minutes as a four-year starter. The tiebreaker in this argument was given to Berry for his ultimate trump card, the 2017 national championship ring. Though he couldn’t match Paige’s close-and-late numbers, Berry hit plenty of big shots (especially as a senior) and came up huge in many big games. In his 245 career clutch minutes, he scored 24.3 points / 40 on a 54.3 TS%.

While not quite at a Ty Lawson-in-2009 level, Berry’s 2016 postseason run was one of the best in Carolina history for a point guard. He won the ACC Tournament MVP, scoring 19 points against stingy Virginia in the title game. He then followed that up with 20 points versus Villanova in the national championship game, including a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc. Overall in his nine postseason games as a sophomore, Berry averaged 14.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Even more impressively, he posted a TS% of 68.2 (64.7% on 2s, 43.2% on 3s, 95.0% on FTs) and an A:TO of 3.45 (including a 10:1 in the Final Four against Syracuse).

Although his postseason wasn’t as efficient as a junior, Berry still captured the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 Final Four. He lit up Gonzaga for 22 points and 6 assists (with only a single turnover) in the title game to clinch that award. He also scored 26 points against Butler in a Sweet 16 win. As a senior, Berry took on a larger scoring burden (with classmate Theo Pinson taking over some of the playmaking responsibilities). He had 12 games with 20 or more points, including five with at least 27.

Berry ended his Carolina career ranked 13^th all-time in both points (1,813) and assists (451), though since has fallen to 15th in points.

30. Raymond Felton (2002-05, PG, 6-1, Latta, S.C.)

Peak season (2005): 12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.9 apg, 2.0 spg, 45.5 FG%, 70.1 FT%, 44.0 3Pt%, 58.9 TS%, 3.52 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 12.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.9 spg, 42.3 FG%, 73.1 FT%, 37.5 3Pt%, 55.0 TS%, 8.41 Career WORP, 2.46 WORP / 1,000 minutes

While Felton’s career statistics and accolades are impressive in their own right, he deserves a slight intangible bump for his importance to the program. Sticking to his commitment to the Heels through the 8-20 season, Felton (along with fellow newcomers McCants and May) instantly re-invigorated UNC upon his arrival in Chapel Hill. As McCants and May struggled some with attitude and injury problems, Felton remained a rock under both the Matt Doherty and Roy Williams regimes. Few Heels have played with as much heart, energy, and intensity as the warrior from Latta. To end his freshman season, Felton averaged 15.3 points and 9.8 assists over the final six games (including 18/10 (with 8 boards) in an upset of No. 10 Duke, 20/10 in an ACCT upset of #14 Maryland, and 15/14 (a UNC postseason assist record) in an NIT win over Wyoming). As a sophomore, Felton endured a shooting slump (31.3% on 3s) while learning to run Roy Williams’ high-octane offense. He still led the conference in APG (7.1) and earned third-team All-ACC honors. As a junior, Felton’s retooled perimeter shot was money (44.0% from deep), and he was selected as a 1st-team All-ACC member. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in UNC’s eight postseason games in ’05. This included a career-high 29 points to stave off a Clemson upset bid in the ACCT quarters. He capped off his Carolina career in style, earning a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament team with averages of 16.5/5.5/7.0. Felton made most of the big plays down the stretch in UNC’s title-game win against Illinois: a 3-point dagger over Deron “Shutdown Man” Williams, three-of-four clutch free throws, and a game-clinching steal on the defensive end (Felton’s consistent ball pressure set the tone all season for the ’05 champions’ disruptive defense).

29. Rasheed Wallace (1993-95, C, 6-11, Philadelphia, Pa.)

Peak season (1995): 16.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.7 bpg, 65.4 FG%, 63.1 FT%, 65.7 TS%, 4.51 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (2 years): 13.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 63.5 FG%, 62.1 FT%, 63.8 TS%, 6.42 Career WORP, 3.64 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Elevatorman’s “100 Reasons Why We Love Rasheed Wallace” is worth a read. While that list could stand alone as justification for his top 30 inclusion, we’ll have to find some other reasons. Wallace signed with Carolina on the heels of the ’93 championship, and found himself behind seniors Eric Montross and Kevin Salvadori as a freshman in ’94. Even in a reserve role, it didn’t take ‘Sheed long to make his presence felt: he scored 12 points (on 6-of-6 shooting), grabbed 13 rebounds, and swatted 5 shots in his second career game, a Preseason NIT win over Cincinnati. Wallace was moved into the starting line-up on a permanent basis before the ’94 regular-season finale (a 10-point win at No. 2 Duke in which he scored 14 points). He followed that up with 17 points and 16 rebounds in an ACCT win over FSU, and 18 and 10 in a 1st Round NCAAT win over Liberty. As a sophomore, Wallace developed into a 1st-team All-American as a full-time starter. In three games against Maryland in ’95, Wallace torched No. 1 pick Joe Smith for 23.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 3.7 BPG (including 33/6/5 in the ACCT semis). After injuring his ankle in the ACCT final, Wallace was limited through the first two games of the NCAAT. But he busted out in the Sweet 16 against Georgetown to the tune of 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots. One of the most talented players to ever wear the uniform (in terms of pure run-and-jump athleticism, post moves/skills, shooting touch, etc.), ‘Sheed will be remembered as an all-time great despite only staying in college for two years.    

28. Armando Bacot (2019-2024, C, 6-11, Richmond, Va.)

Peak season (2022): 16.3 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.7 bpg, 56.9 FG%, 67.0 FT%, 59.6 TS%, 3.98 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (5 years): 13.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 bpg, 55.2 FG%, 68.8 FT%, 58.9 TS%, 13.69 Career WORP, 2.87 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Bacot’s counting stats are inflated by his COVID era-enabled fifth season. He is the program’s all-time leader in both games (169) and minutes played (4,782). While that has helped him to place high on a number of Carolina leaderboards (No. 1 in both rebounds and double-doubles, No. 2 in points, No. 4 in blocks), it takes much more than court time to have that kind of impact on the record books.

In just his seventh game in college, Bacot had 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocks to lead UNC over a top-10 Oregon team in the Bahamas. He would show flashes of that brilliance during his first two years at Carolina, but lacked consistency (both in terms of energy and production). Things really started to click during March of his sophomore season. He scored in double digits in each of the Heels’ six games that month, averaging 16.7 points and 9.5 rebounds. While it was not quite the level of relentless effort and energy that would become his hallmark as a junior, Bacot’s breakout began in earnest in March 2021.

In 2022, Bacot became an absolute double-double machine on the way to one of the most dominant glass-cleaning campaigns in Carolina history. In a three-game stretch in January, he averaged 26.3 points and 17.0 rebounds against Notre Dame, Virginia, and Georgia Tech. In a pair of wins over NC State, he combined for 46 points, 31 rebounds, and 11 blocked shots. While injuries curtailed his scoring efficiency in the NCAA Tournament, Bacot still averaged 15.3 points and 16.5 rebounds during the Heels’ run to the title game.

In his final two seasons in Chapel Hill, Bacot began to draw more defensive/box-out attention. That sometimes led to uneven box score production, but his “top of the scouting report” presence (particularly as an offensive rebounder) allowed teammates to shine. He was still more than capable of the big statistical outing, too. In 2023, he had a five-game stretch of consecutive 20-point performances in which he averaged 23.6 points and 11.0 rebounds. In 2024, he dominated Duke in Chapel Hill to the tune of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. The next game, he hung 24 points and 13 boards on Clemson’s vaunted frontline.

After battling injuries for much of 2022 and 2023 and shedding some weight in the offseason, Bacot became a dominant defender in 2024. Always a force on the defensive glass, he developed into a versatile, switchable perimeter defender while continuing to anchor the paint and protect the rim. Carolina ranked No. 8 in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency in ’24, and Bacot was the biggest reason for elite showing.

Bacot’s intangibles are solid. He helped usher in a couple new eras at Carolina, playing a key role in the transition from Roy Williams to Hubert Davis as well as becoming the first Tar Heel NIL success story. A charismatic off-court presence, he did yeoman’s work on the recruiting trail to attract both high school and portal talent to Chapel Hill. Beloved by teammates, media members, and fans alike, Bacot’s passion for the program and university are nearly unrivaled. While his peak dominance and postseason success were not as great as those ahead of him on the list, there is no denying that Armando Bacot will be remembered as a legendary Tar Heel.

27. Eric Montross (1990-94, C, 7-0, Indianapolis, Ind.)

Peak season (1993): 15.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 61.5 FG%, 68.4 FT%, 63.9 TS%, 4.75 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 11.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 58.5 FG%, 62.4 FT%, 60.0 TS%, 11.04 Career WORP, 3.15 WORP / 1,000 minutes 

As a freshman, Montross was a key post reserve on Dean Smith’s ’91 Final Four team (he added 17 points and 6 rebounds in only 18 minutes in a Sweet 16 romp of Eastern Michigan). He moved into the starting line-up in ’92, and remained there for his final three campaigns. Never a flashy player, Montross was a steady and consistent presence on both ends. He could finish in the paint, knock down a jump hook with either hand, and provide fantastic positional post defense against even the most physical of college ‘5’s. Montross earned some 1st-team All-American honors following both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, however, both his scoring volume (21.1 pace-adjusted points per 40 as a junior to 14.8 as a senior) and scoring efficiency (TS% drop from 63.9 to 54.4) suffered significant declines. In Carolina’s 1993 championship run, Montross had a typically consistent (if not dominant) performance. He scored at least 15 points in eight of UNC’s nine postseason games that season, and grabbed at least seven rebounds in seven of the nine. He also shot at least 60% in eight of the nine postseason contests (and “only” 54.5% in the ninth). His signature games of that stretch included a 19/17 against Georgia Tech in the ACCT championship, and 23 points against Kansas in the Final Four.

26. Jerry Stackhouse (1994-95, PF/SF, 6-6, Kinston, N.C.)

Peak season (1995): 19.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 51.7 FG%, 71.2 FT%, 41.1 3Pt%, 60.4 TS%, 4.24 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (2 years): 15.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 49.6 FG%, 72.0 FT%, 35.5 3Pt%, 57.9 TS%, 6.68 Career WORP, 3.44 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Stackhouse and Wallace will forever be linked in Carolina lore. As two of the top recruits in their class, they entered the program together in the fall of 1993. After two seasons that culminated with a Final Four trip, they also left the program together as top-5 NBA draft picks. On this list, Stackhouse is given a slight nod for being the go-to scorer and offensive alpha male for the ’95 Heels (he was Sports Illustrated’s National Player of the Year that season). Stackhouse started just one game as a freshman (behind incumbent starter Brian Reese), but still made his impact felt. Coming off the bench, Stackhouse averaged 15.7 PPG and 6.7 RPG in three games on his way to the 1994 ACC Tournament MVP award. He shot 29 free throws (making 23) over that three-game stretch, exceeding his total of 26 field goals attempts. Getting to the line was always a strength of the powerful, athletic, and ultra-aggressive Stackhouse. Among Carolina’s 1,000-point scorers, only Pete Brennan and Tyler Hansbrough had higher FTA Rates (Haywood’s was the same as Stackhouse’s). In 1995, Stackhouse played as an undersized ‘4’ for the Heels. His versatility was on display in the ’95 postseason when he led UNC in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and 3-point percentage. He blocked 1.8 shots per game that postseason, too. In an Elite 8 upset of Kentucky, Stackhouse scored 18 points, secured 12 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists. Even with a bruised thigh, he contributed 18 points and 6 rebounds in a Final Four loss to Arkansas. Stackhouse also added 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in the double-overtime win at Duke in ’95. Two of the 25 happened here, with a dunk and strut for the ages.

25. Brice Johnson (2012-2016, PF, 6-10, Orangeburg, S.C.)

Peak season (2016): 28.0 mpg, 17.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 bpg, 1.1 spg, 64.9 TS%, 4.90 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 seasons): 21.0 mpg, 11.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 59.8 TS%, 10.30 Career WORP, 3.32 WORP / 1,000 minutes

From the moment that Johnson stepped onto campus, he was an ultra-efficient finisher and a super-productive per-minute scorer and rebounder. Deep Carolina frontcourts and some defensive struggles relegated Johnson to a bench role as an underclassman. He moved into the starting lineup as a junior, but was still prone to silly fouls and defensive lapses. It was only in his senior season in 2016 that everything clicked on the defensive end. At his peak, the 2016 version of Johnson was undoubtedly one of the most-dominant players of the Roy Williams era.

Although he finished behind Malcolm Brogdon in the 2016 ACC Player of the Year vote, Johnson won the KenPom National Player of the Year (done completely algorithmically). His ORtg of 126.8 ranked 23rd in the nation as a senior. When coupled with his high usage rate of 24.6% (20% is average), that lofty efficiency is even more impressive. Additionally, Johnson’s defensive rebounding percentage of 28.5 ranked 13th in the country. It’s no surprise that the computers loved him in 2016.

As a sophomore, Johnson came on strong at the end of the season. Over his final three (complete) games, he averaged 15.7 points on 73.3% from the field. That included a 16-point, 8-rebound, 4-block performance in a Round of 64 win over Providence (in only 21 minutes). After just two minutes against Iowa State in the Round of 32 (in which he already had two points and two rebounds), Johnson sprained his ankle and would not return. That injury was likely the difference in a close loss to the Cyclones. In his junior year, Johnson scored 18 a game in the Heels’ ACC Tournament run, including 20 (on 10-of-12 shooting) in the championship-game loss to Notre Dame (UNC’s fourth game in as many days). He also averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the two Duke games that season.

During his huge 2016 season, Johnson racked up Sean May-like numbers against the Blue Devils, averaging a 20-20 in the two games (with 47 points and 40 rebounds). But his signature performance was a 39-point, 23-rebound masterpiece on the road in Tallahassee. He shot 14-of-16 from the field en route to his 39 points. Johnson also had a very strong NCAA Tournament run as a senior. In the six games, he averaged 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks. That included an 8-block game in the opening round versus Florida Gulf Coast, and a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double in the Elite 8 against Notre Dame. Consistently efficient, Johnson posted an individual-game ORtg of between 125 and 150 in each of the six Tournament games. Overall, he had a TS% of 66.6 in the NCAAT (FG% of 61.2 and a FT% of 82.1).

Always an above-the-rim finisher, Johnson’s 196 dunks are easily the most of the Williams/Davis era among four-year players (Bacot had 198 slams in his five seasons). His career FG% of 57.5 ranks 16th in the history of the program. He also ranks seventh all-time with 1,035 career rebounds. Other Carolina bigs have had more consistent careers than Johnson, but few have matched his peak-level dominance.

24. York Larese (1958-61, SF/SG, 6-4, New York, N.Y.)

Peak season (1961): 23.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 46.7 FG%, 78.5 FT%, 51.9 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 17.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 44.3 FG%, 79.6 FT%, 50.8 TS%

Larese and classmate Doug Moe were the linchpins of a three-year run in which the Heels went 57-15 (36-6 in the ACC). Larese earned 1st-team All-ACC honors in each of his three varsity seasons, and also made at least 3rd-team All-American in each of them. The lack of postseason success (no ACCT titles and a first-round loss in his only NCAA Tournament) hurts his resume a little. In terms of pure production, though, few Heels could match “The Cobra” (a nickname given to Larese for his rapid-fire approach at the free-throw stripe—he made 87% there as a junior, and 80% for his career).  Larese scored at least 15 PPG in each of his three varsity seasons, a figure that exploded to 23.1 as a senior. After shooting just 3-of-15 and fouling out in an ’59 NCAAT loss to Navy, Larese had some dominating postseason performances in the 1960 ACCT: 28 points and 12 rebounds in an opening round win over UVa, and 25 and 8 in a two-point loss to Duke in the semis. Larese shot 54% from the field and 94% from the line in those games, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team.

23. Dennis Wuycik (1969-72, SF, 6-5, Ambridge, Pa.)

Peak season (1971): 18.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 60.7 FG%, 85.8 FT%, 67.7 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 16.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 59.0 FG%, 83.4 FT%, 65.3 TS%

As seen in the below list, Wuycik was one of the most ruthlessly efficient scorers in UNC history. A physical, blue-collar type from Western Pa., Wuycik was the wing version of Tyler Hansbrough. His rugged style resulted in a career FTA Rate of 58.8, seventh among Carolina’s 81 1,000-point scorers. And, like Hansbrough, he made the most of those myriad opportunities, knocking in 83.4% of his career chances at the line. Wuycik scored 24 points (on a predictably efficient 13 FGAs) in the 1972 ACC Tournament championship game, leading the Heels to a victory over Maryland. He followed that up with 17.0 PPG in the East Regional to earn MVP honors there. But Wuycik saved his best postseason performances for the ’72 Final Four: in two games (including the national 3^rd-place game), he averaged 23.5 PPG and 7.0 RPG. He also got to the line 22 times in two games, converting 17. Wuycik was a 1st-team All-ACC selection as both a junior and senior. He was a 1st-team All-American as a senior. While he sometimes slips through the cracks when remembering Carolina legends, Wuycik’s combination of scoring volume and efficiency earn him a spot on this list’s top 25.

Most-Efficient 15-PPG Seasons in UNC History

1. Dennis Wuycik (1972): 68.1 TS%, 18.0 PPG
2. Dennis Wuycik (1971): 67.7 TS%, 18.4 PPG
3. Mike O’Koren (1978): 67.6 TS%, 17.3 PPG
4. Brad Daugherty (1986): 66.0 TS%, 20.2 PPG
5. Vince Carter (1998): 65.94 TS%, 15.6 PPG
6. Ty Lawson (2009): 65.90 TS%, 16.6 PPG
7. Rasheed Wallace (1995): 65.7 TS%, 16.7 PPG

22. George Lynch (1989-93, PF, 6-8, Roanoke, Va.)

Peak season (1993): 14.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.3 spg, 50.1 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 52.7 TS%, 4.30 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 12.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.7 spg, 51.9 FG%, 65.1 FT%, 54.7 TS%, 11.52 Career WORP, 3.13 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Lynch is remembered fondly by Tar Heel fans as the vocal and emotional senior leader of the 1993 champs. Like Felton, he provided intangible benefits to the program that supplement (and, in some instances, overshadow) his traditional box score contributions. And while leadership, toughness, and heart don’t show up in a box score, a lot of things that Lynch did very well for four years do (like points, rebounds, and steals). Lynch averaged a double-double (14.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG) in the ’93 postseason, dominated the East Regional (averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.5 steals in tight victories over Arkansas and Cincinnati), and added two more double-doubles in the Final Four (14/10 vs. Kansas, 12/10 vs. Michigan). Still, in typical Lynch fashion, he might be best remembered for a non-box score contribution (the trap on Chris Webber that forced the timeout/technical foul). Lynch never made even a 3rd-team All-American list (joining Walter Davis as the Heels in the top 40 for which that is the case). But his four years of consistency on both ends of the court—culminating with the ’93 national championship—earn him high marks from both the “statistical/WORP” and “intangibles/little things” crowds. He’s fourth in UNC history in career rebounds and second in steals. Despite what the record books say, George Lynch is an All-American in the hearts of Carolina fans.

21. Mike O’Koren (1976-80, PF/SF, 6-7, Jersey City, N.J.)

Peak season (1978): 17.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.7 spg, 64.3 FG%, 74.8 FT%, 67.5 TS%, 3.76 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 15.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.6 spg, 57.2 FG%, 72.6 FT%, 61.4 TS%

O’Koren’s list of accolades is extremely impressive: three 1st-team All-Americans, two 1st-team All-ACCs, and a 2nd-team All-ACC. He loses a little bit of credit on this list for essentially peaking as a sophomore—although he was still very good as an upperclassman. He never really blossomed into a NPOY-caliber superstar, although his consistency and four-year production are quite outstanding in their own right. O’Koren’s most memorable performance as a Tar Heel was probably the 1977 Final Four when he poured in 31 points against UNLV in the national semis. He shot 14-of-19 from the field in that game, leading the Heels to an 84-83 come-from-behind victory. O’Koren also scored 21 with 8 rebounds in the ’77 ACCT championship game, and added a double-double (14 and 11) in the national championship loss to Marquette. At his best in big games, O’Koren added 18 and 8 in UNC’s victory in the ’79 ACCT title game. He scored efficiently, contributed in all phases (great passer and rebounder, won the Carmichael-Cobb defensive award in 1980), and was an instant-impact player as soon as he stepped on campus. Only his (relatively) low peak keeps him out of the top 20 on this list. And only at Carolina can “1st-team All-American” be considered a “(relatively) low peak.”

20. Walter Davis (1974-77, SF/SG, 6-5, Pineville, N.C.)

Peak season (1977): 15.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.4 spg, 57.8 FG%, 77.8 FT%, 61.1 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 15.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 53.1 FG%, 77.3 FT%, 56.9 TS%

As alluded to in the George Lynch write-up, Davis is the only member of this list’s top 20 to not have an All-American honor on his resume. While Davis’ scoring averages did not change much throughout his career (14.3 PPG as a freshman, 16.1 as a sophomore, 16.6 as a junior, 15.5 as a senior), he became a more and more efficient scorer (year-to-year TS%’s of: 53.6, 54.4, 58.3, 61.1). Much like Vince Carter, the upperclassman version of “Sweet D” was an efficient and dangerous secondary/tertiary scoring option (behind Ford and Kupchak). On different teams (like, say, the Forte teams of 2000 and 2001), Carter and Davis could have easily been 20-PPG scorers (albeit with a probable loss in efficiency). Davis was a fantastic passer and defender, rebounded well for a wing, and could affect the game in many ways. His most famous Tar Heel memory is probably the long banker against Duke to cap the ’74 “8 points in 17 seconds” comeback. Davis averaged 19.0 PPG and 7.7 RPG (including 31 and 12 in an opening-round win against Wake) as the Heels won the ’75 ACCT, but was somehow left off the All-Tournament (first) team. After scoring 22 points in the ’77 ACCT semis, Davis was limited to 8 minutes in the championship game with a broken index finger. He missed the Round of 32 game, struggled in the Sweet 16 (while adjusting to his taped-together fingers), then busted out in the Elite 8. Despite the injury to his shooting hand, Davis averaged 20 PPG (on 64.5% from the field) and 6.3 RPG over UNC’s final three games (Elite 8 versus Kentucky, and Final Four match-ups against UNLV and Marquette). While injuries eventually caught up to the Heels in ’77, Davis’ postseason run was one of the most heroic and memorable in the program’s history. Like Phil Ford, Davis is missing that elusive national championship to complete his legacy. The lack of a ring wasn’t at all related to his stretch-run performance, however.

19. Kenny Smith (1983-87, PG, 6-3, Queens, N.Y.)

Peak season (1987): 16.9 ppg, 6.2 apg, 50.2 FG%, 80.7 FT%, 40.8 3Pt%, 63.0 TS%, 3.59 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 12.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 51.2 FG%, 82.3 FT%, 40.8 3Pt%, 58.6 TS%, 11.23 Career WORP, 2.66 WORP / 1,000 games

When the greatest shooters in Carolina history are mentioned, Kenny Smith is a name that rarely comes up. Known more for his blinding end-to-end speed and ability to finish above the rim, “The Jet” was also a sharpshooter extraordinaire. As seen in the list that follows, Smith’s cumulative FG% + FT% + 3Pt% ranks him among the best UNC shooters of the 3-point era (among players with 20+ made threes in their career). Smith took over the starting reins immediately for a loaded ’84 team, scoring 14 points with 5 assists in his first career game. Just as he was hitting his stride (averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 assists over the last three games, including 14 and 9 versus LSU), Smith’s wrist was broken on a hard foul from John Tudor. Upon his return (in a cast), Smith wasn’t the same player and the ’84 Heels (who had started 21-0) were bounced early from the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. As a sophomore, Smith made the All-ACC Tournament team by averaging 16.7 points in three games. He added 22 points and 6 assists in a Sweet 16 victory over Auburn. After averaging about 12 and 6 as both a sophomore and junior, Smith became Carolina’s top option in ’87 with the graduation of Brad Daugherty. He upped his scoring average to 16.9 per game while also increasing his efficiency (and maintaining a similar rate of pace-adjusted assists / 40), highlighted by scoring 41 points (on just 19 FGAs) at Clemson on a balky knee. His great senior season earned him a consensus First Team All-American spot, and even National Player of the Year honors from Basketball Times. Smith set a then-UNC postseason record by averaging 8 assists per game in ’87, and he stepped up with 25 points and 7 assists in his career-ending Elite 8 loss to Syracuse. Despite some strong postseason performances individually, Smith’s legacy is hurt by never winning an ACC Tournament or making a Final Four.

10 Best Career (FG% + FT% + 3Pt%) in UNC History

1. Jimmy Braddock: 175.3 (45.6/83.5/46.2)
2. Hubert Davis: 175.2 (49.8/81.9/43.5)
3. Jeff Lebo: 174.8 (47.9/83.9/42.8)
4. Ranzino Smith: 174.8 (50.2/82.4/42.0)
5. Kenny Smith: 174.3 (51.2/82.3/40.8)
6. Michael Jordan: 173.5 (54.0/74.8/44.7)
7. Cameron Johnson: 171.4 (47.5/82/8/41.1)
8. Shammond Williams: 170.7 (45.5/84/9/40.3)
9. Ty Lawson: 170.0 (51.7/78.0/40.3)
10. Danny Green: 167.5 (45.5/84.5/37.5)

18. Mitch Kupchak (1972-76, C, 6-10, Brentwood, N.Y.)

Peak season (1976): 17.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 57.6 FG%, 74.7 FT%, 61.3 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 13.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 58.6 FG%, 66.5 FT%, 60.5 TS%

Kupchak was a member of consecutive First Team All-American squads as a junior and a senior, also winning ACC Player of the Year in 1976. After backing up Ed Stahl in 1973 (a freshman Kupchak averaged 7.7 PPG and 5.0 RPG off the bench), he sent the older Stahl to the bench in ’74. After averaging 10.7/7.1 in ’74, he upped those figures to 18 and 11 as an upperclassman. His steady development is further testament to Carolina’s ability to utilize and coach bigs throughout the decades. Kupchak was the starting center and third-leading scorer for the ’76 Olympic team, scoring 12.5 a game (on 61.2% from the field) with 5.7 rebounds en route to the Gold medal. Kupchak amassed three consecutive double-doubles (16/14, 14/15, 11/12) as the Heels captured the 1975 ACCT championship. While freshman Phil Ford stole the show, Kupchak’s steady presence in the paint played a crucial role in the title. He capped off his fine March of ’75 run with a career game–—36 points and 14 rebounds against Boston College (albeit in a largely meaningless East Regional 3rd place game following the Syracuse loss). A tough player who battled constant injuries and underwent back surgery in college, Kupchak (like Kenny Smith) is rightly remembered as a Tar Heel legend despite lacking a Final Four appearance.

17. Bobby Jones (1971-74, PF/SF, 6-8, Charlotte, N.C.)

Peak season (1973): 15.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 60.1 FG%, 65.6 FT%, 61.4 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 13.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 60.8 FG%, 64.1 FT%, 61.8 TS%

Although Dudley Bradley, Derrick Phelps, George Lynch and others were elite collegiate defenders, Bobby Jones gets my vote for the greatest Carolina defender of all-time. He was versatile and athletic enough to defend multiple positions, a luxury of which Dean Smith took full advantage. He was no slouch offensively, either, leading the ACC in FG% for three consecutive years. For his career, the do-it-all Jones averaged 13.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists (not to mention his defensive contributions). As a sophomore (in his first year of varsity eligibility), Jones came off the bench to spell Carolina’s terrific frontcourt of Wuycik/Chamberlain/McAdoo. He averaged 10.2 PPG in his 6th-man role, shooting a career-high 67% from the field. With the entire ’72 frontcourt gone in ’73, Jones joined George Karl as a go-to scorer (upping his average to 15 PPG while trading higher usage for lower efficiency). He also helped with the play-making duties, dishing out a career-high 3.9 APG. In ’74, a senior Jones played an integral role in two thrilling victories over Duke. In the first match-up at Cameron, he stole an in-bounds pass with four seconds remaining before hitting a tough lefty lay-up as time expired (then sprinting directly into the locker room without breaking stride). Later, at Carmichael, Jones chipped in four points and a steal in the final 17 seconds to aid in the “8 in 17” comeback win.

16. Sean May (2002-05, C, 6-9, Bloomington, Ind.)

Peak season (2005): 17.5 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 56.7 FG%, 75.8 F%, 62.0 TS%, 4.61 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 15.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 51.3 FG%, 71.7 FT%, 56.2 TS%, 8.38 Career WORP, 3.92 WORP / 1,000 minutes

May had one of the signature stretches of sustained greatness in Carolina history. Considering the magnitude of the games, it can be argued that it’s the best/most important run that the program has ever seen. After ending the 2005 regular season with 32/12 and 26/24 performances in wins against Florida State and Duke, May averaged 20.5 points and 10.1 rebounds in the team’s eight postseason contests (including five double-doubles). This stretch included a 24-17 game versus Iowa State in the Round of 32, and a 29-12 in the Elite 8 win over Wisconsin. May capped off his magical run by averaging 24 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two Final Four games, adding Final Four MVP to his East Regional MVP. Over the eight postseason contests, May shot 62.4% from the field and 76.0% from the line. May was also at his best against arch-rival Duke (and its All-American big man, Shelden Williams), averaging 24.5 points and a staggering 21.0 rebounds in the two ’05 match-ups.

On both the offensive and defensive backboards, May was one of the most dominating Tar Heels in the program’s history. He and his pupil Bacot are the only Carolina players to average a career double-double in the last 45 years (since McAdoo’s one-year “career” double-double in ’72). May, despite earning 3rd-team All-American honors in ’04, made huge strides in conditioning and offensive efficiency between his sophomore and junior campaigns—raising his TS% from 51.1 to 62.0. He missed 26 games as a freshman with a fractured foot, hampering his place on this list from a “career production” perspective. At his peak, though, there were few Heels more dominant than Sean May.

15. Pete Brennan (1955-58, PF, 6-6, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Peak season (1958): 21.3 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 43.8 FG%, 73.5 FT%, 52.6 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 16.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 41.7 FG%, 70.8 FT%, 50.1 TS%

Brennan was the No. 2 option (behind Lennie Rosenbluth) on the undefeated ’57 champs, scoring 14.7 PPG. Despite shooting 39.4% from the field that season, his ability to get to the line salvaged his scoring efficiency (bringing his TS% up to 48.3, acceptable for that lower-efficiency era). As a senior (post-Rosenbluth), Brennan improved his TS% to 52.6, upped his scoring average to 21.3 PPG, and won ACC Player of the Year. He averaged a double-double (14.3 PPG and 12.6 RPG) during the ’57 postseason, highlighted by a 22-point, 19-rebound, 4-assist performance in the ACCT championship win over South Carolina. He also contributed 14 points and 17 rebounds in a Final Four triple-overtime victory against Michigan State, including a key last-second jumper to send the game into its second overtime. Despite a Carolina loss to Maryland in the title game, Brennan had a dominant ACCT in ’58. He averaged 24.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in the three contests, including 29 and 8 in the title clash. Brennan made 30-of-37 free throws (81.1%) in that tournament, and no Heel in the history of the program was better at earning trips to the stripe. For his career, Brennan’s FTA Rate of 72.2 is tops among Carolina’s 1,000-point scorers (Hansbrough, at 70.8, is second). Brennan excelled as a second banana on a great team, and proved he could carry a very good team, too (the ’58 Heels went 19-7). He was no Lennie Rosenbluth, but his spot in the history books shouldn’t be overlooked.

14. Brad Daugherty (1982-86, C, 6-11, Black Mountain, N.C.)

Peak season (1986): 20.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 64.8 FG%, 68.4 FT%, 66.0 TS%, 5.47 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 14.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 62.0 FG%, 70.0 FT%, 64.1 TS%, 14.01 Career WORP, 3.53 WORP / 1,000 minutes

After coming off the bench for the first 10 games of his Carolina career, Daugherty (who had just turned 17 in mid-October of his freshman year) was inserted into the starting line-up during the Heels’ holiday trip to Hawaii (replacing Buzz Peterson, and sliding Jordan, Doherty, and Perkins down to the 2, 3, and 4, respectively). He’d be a permanent fixture in the middle for the remainder of his four-year UNC career. Daugherty is another example of the staff’s excellence in big-man development: he increased his scoring average (8.2 to 10.5 to 17.3 to 20.2) and scoring efficiency (year-to-year TS%’s of 58.6, 62.7, 65.6, and 66.0) in each year on campus. As a senior, Daugherty authored the most efficient 20-PPG season in the program’s storied history. Coming on strong by the end of his freshman year, Daugherty had 17 points and 13 rebounds in Carolina’s ACCT semifinal loss to NC State. He finished the ’83 season with 15 points and 9 boards in an Elite 8 loss to Georgia. As a junior in ’85, Daugherty averaged 15.4 points and 11.4 rebounds in seven postseason games– scoring 108 points on just 66 FGAs. In the three NCAAT games that season, he averaged 17.5/10.8 while shooting a sizzling 72.5% from the field. In ’86, Daugherty earned his second straight First Team All-American berth. He also had a very strong case to be ACC Player of the Year (losing the award to the flashier, but less efficient, Len Bias). In Carolina’s four postseason games in ’86, Daugherty averaged 20.3 points and 10.0 rebounds. He went down swinging in the Sweet 16 loss to (eventual champ) Louisville, stuffing the stat sheet with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists (and winning the individual battle against freshman phenom Pervis Ellison, who had 15 points and 6 boards). Like Kenny Smith’s (and many others’ from the mid-to-late 80s era), Daugherty’s legacy is (slightly) tarnished without a trip to the Final Four.

13. Al Wood (1977-81, SG/SF, 6-6, Gray, Ga.)

Peak season (1980): 19.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 57.1 FG%, 76.6 FT%, 61.0 TS%, 3.98 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 56.0 FG%, 76.4 FT%, 59.2 TS%

Wood was one of the purest-shooting wings in ACC history. His jump shot was a thing of beauty and, in the pre-3-point era, he dominated the mid-range areas of the court that have long since been forgotten by most modern scorers. Wood’s signature game as a Heel (and one of the signature individual performances in UNC history) was his 39-point explosion against Ralph Sampson and Virginia in the ’81 Final Four. In that game, Wood made 7-of-10 jumpers from between 10 and 20 feet, and 4-of-5 jumpers/floaters from between 5 and 10 feet. Wood followed his legendary national semis performance by leading the Heels with 18 points and 6 boards in a title-game loss to Indiana. He also turned in a 21/17 versus Kansas State in the Elite 8 to set up his brilliance against the Cavs. As a freshman, Wood played the role of 6th man, scoring 9.1 PPG off the bench. He had 19 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes against Duke to help secure Phil Ford’s emotional Senior Day victory. With the departure of Ford following the ’78 season, Wood joined Mike O’Koren as Carolina’s top options. Over his final three seasons in Chapel Hill, Wood averaged 17.8, 19.0 and 18.1 PPG. An underrated defender, he also captured the Carmichael-Cobb award as a senior for grading out as the top defensive Heel. In 1980, Wood averaged 25.5 points and 8 rebounds in two ACCT games, including a 32-point outburst in a semifinal loss to Duke (no other Tar Heel scored more than seven). He added 26 and 9 in an NCAAT Round of 32 loss to Texas A&M before forever solidifying his reputation as a big-game player in the ’81 postseason.

12. Bob Lewis (1964-67, SG, 6-3, Washington, D.C.)

Peak season (1966): 27.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 53.0 FG%, 81.0 FT%, 59.8 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 22.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 49.0 FG%, 77.6 FT%, 55.1 TS%

Some guys are just natural-born scorers with an intrinsic knack for finding the bottom of the net. Bob Lewis was one of those guys. His 49 points against Florida State in December of ’65 remains a single-game Carolina record. Just eight days earlier, Lewis poured in 43 against Richmond (the eighth-highest single-game total in the program’s history). As a junior in 1966, Lewis averaged 27.4 PPG—second only to Lennie Rosenbluth’s 28.0 in ’57. It wasn’t like Lewis was a low-efficiency gunner, either: he shot 53.0% from the field in ’66 with a TS% of 59.8. As a sophomore in ’65, Lewis combined with senior Billy Cunningham to score 46.4 PPG (Lewis had 21.0), the second-highest mark in Carolina history by a pair of teammates. The record was set the very next season, and again included Lewis. This time, paired with sophomore Larry Miller (the famed “L&M Boys”), the duo combined for 48.3 PPG. In ’67, and on a more-balanced team, Lewis had a senior-year slump. His scoring average dropped to 18.5 PPG while his FG% fell from 53.0 to 44.9. Still, bolstered by the sophomore class of Clark, Bunting, and Grubar, Lewis, and Miller led Dean Smith to his first trip to the Final Four. Despite scoring 18 PPG (including 26 in the championship game) in the ’67 ACCT, Lewis shot 33.3% over the three games. This trend continued in the opening game of the East Regional, when Lewis went 4-of-17 against Princeton. But against Boston College, and with a trip to the Final Four at stake, the old, efficient Lewis returned. He scored 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting (and 9-of-10 from the stripe), leading the Heels to the Final Four and earning East Regional MVP in the process. In two Final Four games, Lewis averaged 17 points, but shot 34.1% from the field. In spite of a senior-year swoon, Lewis should be remembered as one of the deadliest scorers in the program’s proud history (his career average of 22.1 PPG is tied with Charles Scott for third all-time, trailing just Rosenbluth and Cunningham).

11. Ty Lawson (2006-09, PG, 5-11, Clinton, Md.)

Peak season (2009): 16.6 ppg, 6.6 apg, 3.48 A:TO, 53.2 FG%, 79.8 FT%, 47.2 3Pt%, 65.9 TS%, 5.47 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 13.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.78 A:TO, 51.7 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 40.3 3Pt%, 62.4 TS%, 11.24 Career WORP, 3.96 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Ty Lawson’s incredible 2009 campaign is quite simply one of the best by a point guard in the history of the ACC. On the surface, his per-game numbers of 16.6 PPG and 6.6 APG look good if not extraordinary. But, digging a little deeper, Lawson’s combination of scoring efficiency (TS% of 65.9) and ball protection (A:TO of 3.48) are the factors that truly make his junior season so historically brilliant. Lawson became a more and more efficient scorer as his career progressed (TS% of 58.1 as a freshman, 62.2 as a sophomore, and 65.9 as a junior), fueled by an improving 3-point touch (35.6% to 36.1% to 47.2%). Combining strength and blazing end-to-end speed, Lawson’s ability to finish at the rim belied his 5-foot-11 height. After a spectacular ACCT and opening weekend of the NCAAT in ’07 (13.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.57 A:TO in first 5 postseason games), freshman Lawson crashed down to earth during the East Regional (4.5 PPG, 21.1 FG%, 1.7 A:TO). His lack of experience was especially pronounced during the team’s late-game collapse versus Georgetown in the Elite 8. In 2008, Lawson was on the cusp of greatness (39 points with a 20-to-1 A:TO in consecutive games versus Miami and Boston College) before a Ryan Reid takedown sprained his ankle and derailed his season.

In 2009, Lawson put it all together for a complete season. Despite a late-season toe injury that cost Lawson the ACCT and opening-round NCAAT game (and terrified the fanbase), he came back strong to dominate the NCAA Tournament. His 5-game averages were: 20.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, 3.2 SPG, 4.86 A:TO, 64.8 TS%, 7.56 WORP / 35 games. Lawson’s “worst” game on the championship run? Probably a 19-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist, 3-steal, 1-turnover performance against Oklahoma in the Elite 8. With all due respect to Wayne Ellington (whose Final Four shooting was incredible), Lawson deserved to win the Final Four MVP to go alongside his South Regional MVP trophy. His performance in the NCAAT was both exceedingly consistent and thoroughly dominating. At his peak, Lawson is in the conversation with the great Phil Ford for greatest Tar Heel point guard of all-time. When considering the totality of his work, Lawson falls just outside the top 10 in UNC history– at least in this analyst’s eyes.

P.S. Lawson was also undefeated against Duke in his career (5-0), taking over several close games down the stretch. His ability to dribble penetrate and get to the rim at will (even against the staunchest hand-checking) was anathema to Duke’s preferred style of ball-pressuring, overplaying defense. 

10. James Worthy (1979-82, PF, 6-9, Gastonia, N.C.)

Peak season (1982): 15.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 57.3 FG%, 67.4 FT%, 60.1 TS%, 4.25 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 14.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 54.1 FG%, 65.2 FT%, 56.6 TS%, 8.16 Career WORP, 2.93 WORP / 1,000 minutes

If I was picking up teams at the playground, or choosing a squad to win a single “big game,” Worthy would be a lot closer to the front of this top 10 than the back of it. As it is (with considering a player’s entire collegiate contribution), I had to give him an “intangibles” bump just to get him this high on the list (see the list below that illustrates how Worthy compares to other Tar Heel frontcourt greats since 1980).

As a freshman, Worthy missed half of the season (15 of 29 games) after breaking his ankle. He was averaging 12.5 PPG and 7.4 RPG at the time of the injury. As a sophomore, Worthy returned to average 14.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 2.8 APG. He earned a spot on the All-ACC Tournament team, leading Carolina with 19 points and 8 rebounds in a one-point championship-game win over Maryland. Worthy followed that up by averaging 17.0/7/0/4.3 in the first three games of the ’81 NCAAT, and it appeared as if “Big Games James” had fully emerged. However, in the two Final Four games, Worthy struggled to 7.5 PPG on 26% shooting from the field. This included 7 points on 3-of-11 in the championship loss to Indiana. As a junior in ’82, Worthy averaged 15.6/6.3/2.4. Those numbers are more impressive than they look, considering UNC played at a pace of just 61.0 possessions / 40 that season (nearly 20% slower than the 75-possession pace at which Roy Williams’s teams play; the ACC was so slow in ’82 (league-wide pace of 60.8) that the conference instituted an experimental 30-second shot clock in ’83). Worthy averaged 13.3 points and 8.0 boards to win MVP of the 1982 ACC Tournament. He led the Heels with 16 and 6 in a slow-paced championship-game tilt against Ralph Sampson’s Cavaliers. Worthy captured the East Regional MVP, too, averaging 15.0 and 5.7. He capped off his dominant postseason by scoring 21 a game in the Final Four on 74.1% shooting from the field. This included, of course, 28 points (on 13-of-17 shooting) in the title game versus Georgetown. Worthy in ’82 remains the only Tar Heel to complete the postseason Triple Crown: MVP of the ACC Tournament, NCAA Regional, and Final Four (Rosenbluth was close, but lost out on the Final Four MVP to Kansas’s Wilt Chamberlain). After a disappointing Final Four in ’81, the legend of “Big Game James” came to life in ’82.

Selected Frontcourt Greats since 1980: Ranked by WORP / 1,000 Minutes

1. Sam Perkins: 4.02 WORP / 1,000 (17.93 Career WORP)
2. Sean May: 3.92 WORP / 1,000 (8.38 Career WORP)
3. Tyler Hansbrough: 3.84 WORP / 1,000 (16.86 Career WORP)
4. Rasheed Wallace: 3.64 WORP / 1,000 (6.42 Career WORP)
5. Brad Daugherty: 3.53 WORP / 1,000 (14.01 Career WORP)
6. Antawn Jamison: 3.34 WORP / 1,000 (11.60 Career WORP)
7. Brice Johnson: 3.32 WORP / 1,000 (10.30 Career WORP)
8. Eric Montross: 3.15 WORP / 1,000 (11.04 Career WORP)
9. George Lynch: 3.13 WORP / 1,000 (11.52 Career WORP)
10. Tyler Zeller: 2.97 WORP / 1,000 (8.97 Career WORP)
11. James Worthy: 2.93 WORP / 1,000 (8.16 Career WORP)
12. Armando Bacot: 2.87 WORP / 1,000 (13.69 Career WORP)

9. Sam Perkins (1980-84, C/PF, 6-9, Latham, N.Y.)

Peak season (1984): 17.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 58.9 FG%, 85.6 FT%, 65.4 TS%, 5.67 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 15.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 57.6 FG%, 79.6 FT%, 63.1 TS%, 17.93 Career WORP, 4.02 WORP / 1,000 minutes

The biggest knock against Perkins, perhaps, is that he was never the top dog on his own team, playing second fiddle to Wood in ’81, Worthy in ’82, and Jordan in ’83 and ’84. But he shouldn’t be penalized for having sensational teammates; as the data in the list in Worthy’s entry show, Perkins’ numbers rank up there with any big man in UNC history. His accolades/personal honors stack up pretty well, too: three-time 1st-team All American, three-time 1st-team All-ACC, and a handful of postseason hardware to boot. Perkins was the consummate inside-outside post threat. While he did most of his damage in the low post, he also had the ability to draw taller defenders away from the hoop and knock down jumpers all day (right, Ralph?). He drew fouls at a solid rate (career FTA Rate of 51.2) and converted them at an elite percentage (career FT% of 79.6—improving to 83.8 as an upperclassman). Perkins was also an elite defensive post player, combining solid positional defense with the ability to block shots and control the boards.

He had a double-double off the bench in his Carolina debut at the Great Alaska Shootout, and the steady production continued for the next four years. Perkins was inserted into the starting line-up after 14 games of his freshman season, and won the ACC Tournament MVP that season by averaging 17.7 points and 8.3 boards (including 18 and 15 in a one-point UNC win over Wake in the semis; Perkins joins Phil Ford, Jerry Stackhouse, and Brandan Wright as the only UNC freshmen to win ACCT MVP). Perkins averaged 14.4 PPG in Carolina’s five NCAAT games in ’81, reaching double figures in each one (including 11 in both Final Four games). He averaged 16.0 PPG in the ’82 NCAAT, again scoring in double digits each game. The signature performance was a 25-point, 10-rebound masterpiece against Houston in the national semifinals. This game (Perkins went 9-of-11 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line) has fallen through the cracks of Carolina history a little due to Worthy’s 28-point explosion a couple nights later. But it remains one of UNC’s best Final Four performances. In ’83, Perkins scored 36 points with 10 rebounds in a road win over Sampson and Virginia. He averaged 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 3 NCAAT games, running his consecutive streak of double-digit NCAAT games to 13. On his Senior Day, Perkins put up 25 points (on just 10 FGAs) and 10 boards in a double-overtime victory over Duke. He then averaged 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in Carolina’s two NCAAT games in ’84. This included 26 and 9 in his career-ending loss to Indiana in the Sweet 16 (he’d score 10+ points in each of his 15 career NCAA Tournament games). Even in one of the toughest losses in the history of the program, Perkins was at his reliable best.

8. Larry Miller (1965-68, SF, 6-3, Catasauqua, Pa.)

Peak season (1968): 22.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 49.2 FG%, 70.7 FT%, 53.8 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 21.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 51.1 FG%, 68.4 FT%, 54.7 TS%

In his first year of eligibility, a sophomore Miller (20.9) joined junior Bob Lewis (27.4) as the highest-scoring tandem in Carolina history. Miller also grabbed 10.3 RPG that season, stuck in the paint as an undersized ‘4.’ He had 25 and 14 in a 1st round ACCT win which set up UNC’s legendary 21-20 loss to Duke in a slowdown semifinal (Duke led 7-5 at the half). With the additions of Clark and Bunting in ’67, Miller could return to his more natural small forward position. Miller won the ACC Player of the Year in both ’67 (21.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG) and ’68 (22.4/8.1), and remains the only Heel to capture that coveted prize twice. A sweet-shooting lefty who was lethal from mid-range and adept at scoring in the paint, Miller also won the ACC Tournament MVP in both ’67 (25.7/8.3) and ’68 (25.3/8.7).

He scored 31 in the ’67 semis against Wake, and followed it up with 32 (on 13-of-14 shooting) in a win over Duke in the finals. He added his third consecutive 30-point ACCT game in ’68 (31 against Clemson), before settling for “just” 24 in the semis and 21 in the title game victory (a 37-point beatdown of NC State). Miller averaged 19 PPG and 7.5 RPG in the two East Regional games in ’67, helping to get Dean Smith to his first Final Four. In the Final Four, Miller put up two double-doubles (13/13, 12/11), but struggled mightily from the field (28.9%) in losses to Dayton and Houston. In ’68, Miller had a huge night (27 and 16) in a regional semifinal win over St. Bonaventure. He followed it up with 16 and 6 in a close win over Davidson that sent the Heels to their second consecutive Final Four. Miller scored 20 in a win over Ohio State in the national semis, then added 14 in the championship game versus UCLA, shooting 41.7% overall in the ’68 Final Four. 

7. Billy Cunningham (1962-65: PF/C, 6-5, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Peak season (1965): 25.4 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 49.3 FG%, 63.4 FT%, 52.3 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 24.8 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 47.3 FG%, 62.8 FT%, 50.6 TS%

Cunningham was Dean Smith’s first true star at Carolina. Playing center on some woefully undersized squads, Cunningham’s teams went 42-27 (26-16 in the ACC) in his three years on campus. They never made an NCAA Tournament, or even an ACC Tournament championship game. “The Kangaroo Kid” is sometimes remembered in Carolina lore as the player who leaped to Smith’s defense when the young coach was hung in effigy. But it’s on the court where Cunningham really made his mark. His career scoring average of 24.8 ranks second (behind only Rosenbluth) in UNC history. And Cunningham’s career rebounding mark of 15.4 per game tops the Carolina record book by nearly five rebounds per game (Moe is second at 10.6). His three single-season rebounding averages (16.1, 15.8, and 14.3) are the top three in the program’s history. Even in an era with more rebounds to be had (and on a team with few other options to grab them), Cunningham was truly elite on the glass. Despite being only a 63% career shooter from the line, Cunningham scored efficiently for his era. In five career ACC Tournament games, he averaged 22.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His signature postseason game was probably a 34/15/5 performance in a ’64 opening round win over South Carolina. Although the lack of team success depresses his rank a little, there’s no denying the individual greatness of Billy Cunningham.

6. Charles Scott (1967-70, SF/SG, 6-5, New York, N.Y.)

Peak season (1970): 27.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 46.0 FG%, 78.6 FT%, 51.3 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 22.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 48.0 FG%, 72.6 FT%, 51.8 TS%

Scott, the Jackie Robinson of Carolina hoops, will forever be remembered as the first (varsity) African-American player in the program’s history. And while he took plenty of abuse from opposing fans, he dished out plenty, too (using his game, not his mouth). As a sophomore in ’68, Scott slid into the starting line-up to replace departed star Bob Lewis. He averaged 17.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in his first season of eligibility, with a line of 16.7/7.3/3.0 in three ACCT wins. Scott averaged 16.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in the team’s four NCAAT games in ’68, although, like the rest of the team, he struggled from the field against UCLA in the title game (6-of-17).

With the graduation of Larry Miller after the ’68 season, Scott became the go-to scorer in 1969. He averaged 22.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and (a team-leading) 3.4 assists, following that up with a 27.1/8.6/3.1 line in 1970. A very compelling case could be made in both seasons that Scott deserved ACC Player of the Year. His 1969 postseason was quite simply one of the greatest in Carolina history. He averaged 25.6 points in seven games, shooting 53.7% from the field and 75.0% from the line. This included a 40-point explosion in the ACC Tournament championship to lead the Heels to a come-from-behind victory over Duke in legendary coach Vic Bubas’ final game at the helm. Scott was 17-of-23 from the field versus the Devils. In the East Regional final, Charlie added a second game for the ages: scoring 32 against Davidson including a buzzer-beating jumper off the dribble to send the Heels to their third consecutive Final Four. In two ’69 Final Four losses, Scott averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. In terms of pure scoring output, drama, and signature performances, Scott’s ’69 postseason might be unrivaled in Carolina history. After losing the Clark/Bunting/Grubar class, Scott and the Heels had to settle for an NIT trip in 1970. But Scott didn’t give up his NCAA dreams without a fight, scoring 41 points and adding 13 rebounds in a two-point ACCT loss to Virginia.

5. Antawn Jamison (1995-98, PF, 6-9, Charlotte, N.C.)

Peak season (1998): 22.2 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 57.9 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 60.7 TS%, 5.08 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 19.0 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 57.7 FG%, 61.7 FT%, 59.3 TS%, 11.60 Career WORP, 3.34 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Jamison was the consensus National Player of the Year in 1998, leading the Heels to a 34-4 record and second straight Final Four trip. He was an instant-impact freshman, averaging 15.1 points and 9.7 rebounds on his way to the first of three consecutive 1st-team All-ACC selections. In ’97, he upped his production to 19.1/9.4, including 33 and 11 in a victory over Duke in the regular-season finale. He continued that momentum into the ’97 ACCT where he averaged 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in three Carolina wins (including a 17/11 double-double versus NC State in the championship). In the 1997 Final Four loss to Arizona, Jamison had another double-double (18/11), although he struggled to a 7-of-17 night from the floor. As a junior in ’98, Jamison had the school’s first 20/10 season since Larry Miller in ’66. Highlights included a 36/14 (on 14-of-17 from the field) against NC State, and a 35/11 (on 14-of-20 from the field) against Duke in which he scored his 35 points while possessing the basketball for less than a minute of actual time.

His ultra-efficient style (aided by Cota’s point guard mastery) and quick, unconventional releases made Jamison fun to watch and nearly impossible to defend. He scored 22 with 18 boards in the ACCT final versus Duke, capping off an MVP performance in Greensboro (he averaged 20.7/11.3). He also captured the MVP of the ’98 East Regional by averaging 19.0 points and 12.8 rebounds in the four games, including team-high marks of 20 and 11 in the Elite 8 win over Connecticut. Jamison again struggled from the field in the Final Four loss to Utah (scoring 14 points on 7-of-19 shooting). After shooting 61.3% from the field and 68.7% from the line in the ’98 regular season, those numbers fell to 47.4% and 55.8% in the postseason. Undoubtedly a Tar Heel legend, Jamison’s lack of Final Four success keeps him out of this “Final Four.”

4. Michael Jordan (1981-84, SG, 6-6, Wilmington, N.C.)

Peak season (1984): 19.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 55.1 FG%, 77.9 FT%, 58.7 TS%, 4.86 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (3 years): 17.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 54.0 FG%, 74.8 FT%, 58.3 TS%, 11.45 Career WORP, 3.69 WORP / 1,000 minutes

Because of Jordan’s overwhelming awesomeness as an NBA player, folks sometimes tend to gloss over just how dominant he was as a collegian. After winning The Sporting News’ National Player of the Year award in ’83, Jordan earned consensus NPOY honors in ’84. As a freshman, Jordan stepped into the large shoes of departed All-American Al Wood. He started his very first game as a Tar Heel, scoring in double digits in his first six (including 22 against Tulsa, and 19 in a close win over Kentucky). Jordan made the All-ACC Tournament team as a freshman, leading Carolina with 18 in an opening-round win over Georgia Tech (he was the only Heel in double figures). After 15 points in an Elite 8 win over Villanova, Jordan stepped it up in the ’82 Final Four. In the two games in New Orleans, MJ averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds. Rumor has it that he hit a pretty big jumper in “The Big Easy,” too.

With the departure of Worthy to the NBA, Jordan became the go-to scorer in ’83 (20.0 PPG) and ’84 (19.6). After an 0-2 start to the 1983 season, Jordan stole the in-bounds pass and hit a 25-footer to give Carolina a 3OT win over Tulane. Later that year, he added 32 points (in just 23 minutes) in a 103-82 beatdown of Duke. A week later, he torched Georgia Tech for 39. His iconic steal and dunk to beat Virginia in ’83 remains one of the enduring images in the program’s history. Jordan added 28 and 10 in a first-round ACCT victory over Clemson. He averaged 19.7 PPG in the ’83 NCAAT, including a team-leading 26 in the Elite 8 loss to Georgia. As a junior in ’84, Jordan scored 32 against NC State in February and 25 against Duke in his last career home game.

He had developed into one of the premier defenders in the country by ’84, combining lock-down individual defense with well-timed help-side gambles and wing overplays. The one area that was still a work-in-progress was Jordan’s play-making/ball protection (see below table). He’d become a great passer/set-up guy in the pros, but was still developing those skills as a Tar Heel. Jordan led the Heels with 22 points in an ’84 ACCT semifinal loss to Duke, then followed it up with 27 against Temple in the NCAAT Round of 32 (on 11-of-15 from the field). His Carolina career ended in disappointing fashion, fouling out in 26 minutes in a Sweet 16 loss to Indiana after shooting 6-of-14 from the field. 

Worst Career A:TO among Carolina Wings

1. Reyshawn Terry: 0.64
2. Harrison Barnes: 0.66
3. Max Owens: 0.70
4. Will Graves: 0.87
5. Michael Jordan: 0.91
6. Rashad McCants: 0.93
7. Rick Fox: 0.95
8. Brian Reese: 1.02
9. Kevin Madden: 1.03
10. Ranzino Smith: 1.09

3. Lennie Rosenbluth (1954-57, SF/PF, 6-5, New York, N.Y.)

Peak season (1957): 28.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 48.3 FG%, 75.8 FT%, 55.3 TS%

Career averages (3 years): 26.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 74.0 FG%, 52.2 TS%

Rosenbluth’s 26.9 career scoring average is the best in UNC history, and his three single-season marks of 28.0, 26.7, and 25.5 rank 1st, 4th, and 6th. Nearly seven decades since his career ended, he remains the program’s gold standard for scoring. He wasn’t just a volume scorer, either: Rosenbluth’s TS% of 55.3 in ’57 was tremendously efficient for his era (especially considering his high usage rate). He made the first-team All-ACC in each of his three varsity campaigns, and added All-ACC Tournament honors in ’56 and ’57 as well. In ’56 he averaged 30.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two ACCT games. He topped that in ’57 by averaging 35.3 and 9.7.

In what is probably still the greatest ACC Tournament in history, Rosenbluth scored 45 in the opening round against Clemson (on 19-of-31 shooting), then 38 versus South Carolina in the title tilt (on 15-of-25 from the field). His hot streak continued in the NCAAT with 29 against Yale in the Round of 32, 39 against Canisius in the Sweet 16, and 23 in the Elite 8 versus Syracuse. In the Final Four, Rosenbluth struggled from the field, shooting 33.3% (including 11-of-42 in the national semis versus Michigan State). But for the entire ’57 postseason, Rosenbluth scored 30.8 PPG on 48.7% shooting, numbers that exceeded his regular-season marks (27.0 and 48.2%). The bomber from the Bronx wasn’t shy about getting his shots up, and his National Player of the Year season in 1957 carried the Heels to an undefeated record and the program’s first NCAA championship.

2. Phil Ford (1974-78, PG, 6-2, Rocky Mount, N.C.)

Peak season (1978): 20.8 ppg, 5.7 apg, 52.7 FG%, 81.0 FT%, 57.9 TS%

Career averages (4 years): 18.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, 52.7 FG%, 80.8 FT%, 58.1 TS%

Ford was a remarkably consistent player throughout his four seasons in Chapel Hill. He was a three-time 1st-team All-American as well as three-time 1st-team All-ACC. And his freshman year wasn’t too shabby, either. With a lethal pull-up jumper and a nearly automatic free-throw stroke, Ford’s scoring efficiency was terrific for a point guard (career TS% of 58.1). His mastery of Dean Smith’s Four Corners offense made Ford’s Heels nearly impossible to defeat when they were protecting a lead. In the ’75 ACCT, a freshman Ford scored 78 points over 3 games (26.0 PPG) while knocking in 26-of-30 free throws. He led the Heels to a victory over David Thompson’s Wolfpack in the championship game, helping to restore Carolina to its place atop the ACC power structure. In six postseason games in ’75, Ford averaged 22.2 points and 4.8 assists. He shot 90% from the line while averaging an ironman’s 38 MPG. As a junior in ’77, Ford was again on his way to a dominant postseason. After averaging 24.8 PPG through four postseason games (2 ACCT, 2 NCAAT), he hyperextended his elbow in the waning minutes of a Sweet 16 win over Notre Dame. In three games following the hyperextension, an ineffective Ford averaged 6.7 PPG on 35% shooting. With a healthy Ford, the Heels almost certainly would have cut down the nets in ’77—a boost to his legacy that would probably bump him to the top spot on this list. On Ford’s Senior Day in ’78, in one of the most emotional games in Carmichael history, he poured in 34 points to hold off a super-talented Duke team that would lose in the national title game a month later.

1. Tyler Hansbrough (2005-09, C/PF, 6-9, Poplar Bluff, Mo.)

Peak season (2008): 22.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 54.0 FG%, 80.6 FT%, 61.8 TS%, 4.40 WORP / 35 games

Career averages (4 years): 20.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 53.6 FG%, 79.1 FT%, 61.3 TS%, 16.86 Career WORP, 3.84 WORP / 1,000 minutes

As a methodological reminder, Hansbrough’s selection at No. 1 doesn’t mean he’d be my first pick for a single game, or that he had the highest peak value of any Tar Heel, or that he’s the most talented player in the history of the program. In a must-win game, I’d (probably) choose a peak-value Worthy, Lawson, Jordan, Ford, Scott, or May over “Psycho T.” Maybe even a few other Heels. But in terms of combining four years of consistent All-American-level production with a NPOY-caliber peak (and capping it off with a title), no one can match Hansbrough. He was a four-time All-American as well as a four-time 1st-team All-ACC selection. He won a National Player of the Year, an ACC Player of the Year, an ACCT MVP, and an NCAA Regional MVP. In the 2008 postseason, Hansbrough averaged 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in eight games. In the ACCT semis versus Virginia Tech, Hansbrough scored 26 points, hit a game-winning baseline jumper, and busted out one of the sweetest celebration “dances” in ACC history. He followed that up with 18 and 11 the next afternoon to clinch the ACCT title with a win over Clemson. Hansbrough added 28 points and 13 rebounds in an Elite 8 win over Louisville, knocking down two late jumpers to secure the win.

In the ’09 postseason, a singularly-focused Hansbrough put up 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game. In the ACCT, he poured in 28 against Virginia Tech, adding four late points and a steal to seal the deal. Hansbrough ripped Gonzaga for 24 points and 10 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win, and added a Final Four double-double against Villanova. While teammates Lawson and Ellington may have stolen some of the Final Four glory, Hansbrough’s career culminated in the only way that made sense—with a championship ring.