North Carolina had dreams fall apart in the NCA Tournament yet again, going out in the Sweet 16 via a two-point loss to Alabama.
UNS hasn’t won a national championship since 2017 but remains one of the premiere programs in the nation, having won six total titles in its history.
The list below takes a look at some of the most outstanding players in school history. Keep reading to find out who they are.
Tyler Hansbrough
Tyler Hansbrough is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players to ever represent the Tar Heels. He holds multiple records at North Carolina, including the highest number of points scored (2,872) and rebounds pulled down (1,219). Hansbrough's achievements also include being the school's career record holder for double-figure scoring games, made field goals, and made free throws. With a career average of 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, he was the first player in ACC history to be named first-team all-conference four times and was a three-time first-team All-American. He won several national Player of the Year awards in the 2007-08 season and played a vital role in helping the Tar Heels secure the national championship in 2009.
Brendan Haywood
Haywood, though not as famous as some of North Carolina's other basketball legends, was a key player for the team in the early 2000s. While he never received first-team All-American honors, he was recognized for his defensive skills and named to the ACC's All-Defensive Team in 2001. Despite averaging only 10 points per game, Haywood holds impressive records for his field-goal percentage, both in a single season and over his entire college career. He was also a solid rebounder and holds the record for most blocks in North Carolina history with 304.
Armando Bacot
Armando Bacot has been a key player for UNC, thanks to his aggressive playing style and impressive rebounding skills. He consistently delivers strong performances, earning him the title of UNC's all-time rebounding leader.
Bacot's exceptional rebounding efficiency has made him one of the top players in college basketball, with an average of 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. As he gets set to head to the NBA Draft, Bacot will be considered a highly valued prospect for NBA teams due to what he has achieved on the college scene. The North Carolina sports betting sites available post-launch in the state will likely offer odds on where he ends up.
RJ Davis
RJ Davis was the star player for the Tar Heels this season and had an outstanding campaign as he led UNC in scoring. The guard has been averaging over 20 points, almost four rebounds, and three assists per game. With his impressive performance, including his career-high score of 42 points against the Miami Hurricanes, it is expected that he will be picked early in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft should he opt to declare.
Davis told reporters he hadn’t made up his mind about returning for a fifth season, but the program will hope he does.
Jerry Stackhouse
The dynamic Jerry Stackhouse spent a brief period playing basketball for North Carolina, but his performances left a lasting impact on the fans. He scored a total of 1,080 points and secured 456 rebounds as a member of the Tar Heels team.
During the 1994-95 season, North Carolina made it to the Final Four, and Stackhouse played an instrumental role with an average of 19.2 points per game, shooting 51.7 percent, grabbing 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.5 steals. His impressive performance earned him the title of a consensus All-American and Sports Illustrated's National Player of the Year..
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever live, first made a name for himself at North Carolina. He spent three seasons there, where he recorded an impressive average of 17.7 points per game, shot 54.0 percent, and grabbed 5.0 rebounds per game. During his time at North Carolina, Jordan was named a two-time first-team All-American, ACC Player of the Year, and national player of the year.
He also famously made the game-winning shot against Georgetown in the 1982 national championship game. Today, Jordan's iconic No. 23 jersey is retired at North Carolina as a testament to his outstanding achievements during his college basketball career. As great as he was at UNC, perhaps there aren’t many people who would have thought that he would go on to achieve as much as he did in professional basketball. It’s why two players were drafted before him in 1984.