Most improved UNC player of all time?

[wagrub30]

Who is the player you think improved the most from the start of his freshman season (or sophomore season going back to the days when freshmen weren't eligible for varsity competition)?

3 come to mind for me, including one who wound up playing in the NBA for quite a few years.

 

[gobblercalls]

I'd say Warren Martin or Hubert Davis.

 

[midline]

Easily Warren Martin. Maybe Tito. Hubert needed to mature, but he could always shoot.

 

[notashelbyfan]

Jon Henson or Jackie Manuel

 

[Heels5150]

Maye

 

[dtodd4475]

Just quickly, David Noel and Ademola Okalaja (spelling ?) come to mind.

 

[bobcrane14]

Kevin Salvadori. You could see the potential. But as a freshman he was 7 feet tall, and well under 200 pounds. Only ranked about #300 in. high school. He backed up George Lynch and Eric Montross on the 1993 NCAA championship team

 

[dtodd4475]

Kinda surprised there is no Wes Miller love in this one yet. 😆

 

[uncfanatic]

David Noel was first one to come to mind.

 

[RHFD]

Luke Maye

 

[dadika13]

Justin Jackson and Isaiah Hicks come to mind.

 

[Bubspub88]

Hard to really gauge. Nowadays there is so much known about every prep player before he even steps foot on campus. Plus there was a time not too long ago that freshmen and to an extent sophs really contributing was the exception and not the rule.

In recent times probably have to go with Maye or maybe Isaiah Hicks who both went from seeing the court because of foul trouble to key contributors. Some other guys that jump out would include Dante Calabria, Hubert Davis, David Noel, Mike Pepper and Warren Martin.

You also have guys like Vince Carter who come in highly ranked but struggle as freshmen only to explode later (would love to see Caleb do this).

 

[TarHeelTroy]

Brice Johnson also

 

[berens007]

From since i've been watching us as a fan (1999 Freshman year) i'd say Maye, Reyshawn Terry, David Noel, Wes come to mind first for me in no particular order

 

[E.D. JUNGLECAT]

Luke Maye, Wes Miller but I remember quite a turnaround for Shamond Williams as well.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

Noel, Maye, B. Johnson, W. Martin!

 

[gteeitup]

forte

 

[wagrub30]

Luke Maye is definitely one I would add to the 3 I was thinking of in the original post. Two of those 3 haven't been mentioned yet. They go back a few years. Definitely a lot of guys mentioned here that improved a lot over their careers. That was always a hallmark of Dean Smith coached players and it's good to see that it continues.

 

[CrazyHeel]

I gotta go with Rayshon Terry

 

[Go Heels #1]

I think Warren Martin but I expect one of yours is Sam Perkins, and that would not be incorrect.

 

[Rabidfrog]

Kennedy Meeks would be another one that should be up there among recent players for how he reshaped his body every year for four years.

 

[DaSheed]

Vince Carter

He really struggled his Freshman season.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

Cam Johnson, T. Lawson

Predicts Future: Caleb Love, Mando Bacot, RJ Davis!

 

[NCAAUCoach]

Luke Maye was a walk-on getting little to no minutes....to hitting one of the biggest shots in UNC history...and being an All-American the following year. Huge jump for him.

 

[superstar57]

Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Sierge Zwicker??, Danny Green, George Lynch

 

[Spaceytoyz]

Mike Jordan

 

[WoadBlue]

Easily Warren Martin. Maybe Tito. Hubert needed to mature, but he could always shoot.

Agree with Warren. He was a 7 foot uber nerd with no skills when he arrived. And he worked as har as possible to make himself a valuable player on a couple of deep teams

 

[WoadBlue]

Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Sierge Zwicker??, Danny Green, George Lynch

Zwicker would be my choice for 2nd behind Warren Martin.

 

[DSouthr]

Jimmy Black, Steve Hale, George Lynch, Hubbert Davis, Danny Green, Joel Berry, many others but these off the top my head, Serge? Oh, I got a huge one, Bob McAdoo, he didn't score a single point for us his freshman season, and how about Kenny Williams? To many to name.

And yes, I know full well why McAdoo didn't score a single point for us his freshman season. LOL

 

[unchampions]

David Noel was first one to come to mind.

Noel is one of my all time faves. Wasn't he primarily recruited as a football player? I think he wasn't scouted very well and under-ranked for hoops. I thought he played really well even early in his career. He really showed great leadership his senior year.

 

[Geth]

I remember Marcus Paige scared the hell out of me when he first started.... He came a long way.

 

[TarHeelFanWV]

Gotta be Maye.. Who else went from walk-on to star?