Who would you pick as the best player to ever play at UNC
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During my time at Carolina, Phil's senior year through Big Game's sophomore; I'd have to say Phil Ford was the best player! He had the greatest impact on the game when he was on the court. Of course, Big Game broke his ankle during his sophomore season, came back and won it all his junior season, but then left for the league. As far as playing for Carolina, they are my number 1 & 2!
I'm 28 and remember teams and individuals pretty vividly probably back to the '93 championship team, so I'm limiting my answer to that period, and I'm going to say Jamison was the best in my lifetime. Based on my dad's stories, I would have a hard time arguing with anyone who wants to say Worthy or Phil Ford going back in time.
Obviously MJ is the G.O.A.T. for his NBA career, and was terrific at Carolina (as was Big Game James)...
but if you're talking about college performance it comes down between Phil and Psycho (with Charlie Scott getting consideration).
I've been watching since Phil Ford (even though I was very young then). It's hard to do this, for sure. I've enjoyed so many players and great seasons. My favorite team was 97-98.
I gotta go with Tyler Hansbrough, too. The achievements he made, the team's achievements and potential with him- National Championship, Player of the Year, beating dook 4 years in a row in Durham, staying all four years, retired jersey, etc. You just always knew that we were probably going to win with him playing. Even if the odds were long; When Tyler was playing, anything was possible.
Not to sully the post too much, but Tyler is like our Christian Laettner.
I gotta go with Tyler Hansbrough, too. The achievements he made, the team's achievements and potential with him- National Championship, Player of the Year, beating dook 4 years in a row in Durham, staying all four years, retired jersey, etc. You just always knew that we were probably going to win with him playing. Even if the odds were long; When Tyler was playing, anything was possible.
Not to sully the post too much, but Tyler is like our Christian Laettner.
I think it's wise to rank them by decades - the game is constantly changing. Hard to disagree with any of your picks, although "overall" is a tough one because of the changes in style, rules. (For example, Ford's famous execution of the Four Corners couldn't be done in the era of the shot clock.)
Well, point taken... although I hafta say Phil would have been Phil with or with out the Four Corners. His biggest strength was transition basketball, which is one of the reasons he was NBA Rookie of the Year and considered by many experts to be the best PG in the league by the end of his first year (before alcohol unfortunately became an issue).
I agree with all of your picks except the 90's. I'd have to go with 'Sheed
The guy was just an incredible force. Scary to think what could have happened if he played another year (or 2).
Charlie Scott was not a better player at UNC than Billy Cunningham. The Kanagroo Kid was 6-5 and jumped center. He was the team's best rebounder, it's top threat on D around the paint, it's most athletic and effective wing, and it's best big guard. Billy Cunnningham actually could play all positions, and could pl;ay 3 of them excellently. He was on many nights a 1 man team.
Ok, putting aside my previous facetious comment.
For sheer dominance, single-minded determination, ability to influence a game and for spurning the NBA another year to get a ring, there can be only one.....
For sheer dominance, single-minded determination, ability to influence a game and for spurning the NBA another year to get a ring, there can be only one.....
You got a winner ! The game is still about putting the orange leather ball through the metal hoop and regardless of what excuse you make no body did that more than Tyler !
If you shorten the list to guys who both won a national title and were named NPOY, your choices are:
• Lennie Rosenbluth (Helms Foundation NPOY)
• James Worthy
• Michael Jordan
• Tyler Hansbrough
If you expand the list to include other NPOY who made the Final Four, you'd have the above plus:
• Phil Ford
• Antawn Jamison
• Lennie Rosenbluth (Helms Foundation NPOY)
• James Worthy
• Michael Jordan
• Tyler Hansbrough
If you expand the list to include other NPOY who made the Final Four, you'd have the above plus:
• Phil Ford
• Antawn Jamison
Hard to argue with your decade by decade picks. If we're talking about the best career while at UNC only, I can't think of a player that had a better career than Tyler. Never losing at H.I.S. is very impressive, not sure if it has ever been duplicated in the Knight Lite era. I don't know that I've ever seen a guy in Carolina Blue that played any harder than Tyler.
Well yeah, the OP did not ask the best UNC career (thou MJ was a great player for us). Now if we limit the discussion to just college career, MJ would be in my top 5 but the top spot for me would go to Phil Ford. I do admit that Charlie Scott and Lenny being before my time does not do my perception of them justice. It is like those that suggest Hansbourgh was the best, they were not there when Phil was working his magic, like I was not there when lenny or Charlie were. For me Tyler would be in the later end of my top 10 list and maybe could slip out of it completely.
Whe you talk in terms of great players like Phil, MJ, Worthy, Bad Brad IMO is way under estimated, Twain, Scott, Lenny, Kangaroo kid, Rasheed, VC, TY, Ray, May, ect. Tyler got a lot of well deserved acclaims but he played in a very different era in which I just don't see the game be as competitive as it used to be. In large part due to really great talents leaving the college game way to soon, Hansbourgh was one of the very few that played as well as he did yet stayed for all 4 years. How well would have Tyler done had he have to face Sampson, Bias, DT level talents for 4 years?
I watched Ford every year he was at Carolina. He's 3rd on my list.
Hansbrough is the all-time leading scorer in ACC history and led the Heels to the National Championship. He endured more physical punishment than anyone I've ever seen and never took a second off at any time in any game I ever saw him play. He had one speed...wide open.
I've seen a lot of great of great players come through this place but IMO, none were greater in their time here than Hansbrough.
Best Player for UNC is Tyler Hansbrough end topic. Best player ever who played for UNC is Michael Jordan.
Really not much to debate in regards to it imo.
HANDS DOWN - PSYCHO T while playing at "Chap-a-lina"
MJ BEST TO EVER LACE THEM UP! PERIOD!!! (Top 2 or 3 while at UNC)
...and Lebron you ain't no MJ!!!
*Nobody mentioned Walter Davis. - not best ever at UNC, but way up there on the list, IMO
MJ BEST TO EVER LACE THEM UP! PERIOD!!! (Top 2 or 3 while at UNC)
...and Lebron you ain't no MJ!!!
*Nobody mentioned Walter Davis. - not best ever at UNC, but way up there on the list, IMO
1950's - Lenny Rosenbluth
1960s - Larry Miller
1970s - Phil Ford
1980s - James Worthy
1990s - Antawn Jamison
2000s - Tyler Hansbrough
#1 All time player would have to be Phil Ford, and its not even close.
1960s - Larry Miller
1970s - Phil Ford
1980s - James Worthy
1990s - Antawn Jamison
2000s - Tyler Hansbrough
#1 All time player would have to be Phil Ford, and its not even close.
