NEWSLETTER
This article is part of a series of top North Carolina athletes and teams. As North Carolina sports betting gets set to launch in March, take a look at the top athletes across North Carolina college and professional sports.
North Carolina has a rich basketball history with plenty of Division I schools and talent to go around. We have ranked the top 10 Duke players of all time and the top 10 UNC players of all time. What about the best players from any school in North Carolina? Let’s look at the 10 best North Carolina college basketball players ever.
10. Steph Curry – PG
School: Davidson
Years: 2006-09
Stephen Curry exploded onto the scene while leading Davidson on an incredible Elite Eight run in 2008 where the Wildcats lost a heartbreaker to eventual national champion Kansas 59-57. Curry averaged 32 points per game in that tournament. As for the rest of his college career, Curry was a two-time All-American and won the Southern Player of the Year twice.
9. Jay Williams – PG
School: Duke
Years: 1999-2002
Jay Williams helped Duke win a national title and was a Wooden Award, Naismith Award, and Rupp Trophy winner in his great career. Williams was the 2001-02 AP Player of the Year, a two-time All-American, and three-time All-ACC selection.
Read More: UNC vs Duke, who wins all time?
8. JJ Redick – SG
School: Duke
Years: 2002-06
JJ Redick was an elite scorer in his time with the Blue Devils. The star guard won the 2005-06 AP Player of the Year along with the Naismith and Wooden Award when he averaged 26.8 points per game as a senior. He also won two Rupp Trophies, was the ACC Player of the Year twice, and was a two-time All-American. Redick was also All-ACC four times.
7. Grant Hill – SF
School: Duke
Years: 1990-94
Grant Hill played in three national championship games in his Duke career and won back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992. He was the 1993-94 ACC Player of the Year, a two-time All-American, and made the All-ACC Team three times. Hill started the point-forward revolution as he could play multiple positions and handle the ball while standing 6’8″. As a senior, he averaged 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists showing he could do it all.
6. Michael Jordan – SG
School: UNC
Years: 1981-84
Michael Jordan might be the greatest NBA player of all time but he falls in the middle of his list due to some incredible college performances by the remaining players. Jordan was no slouch at UNC as he hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 national championship as a freshman. He went on to win the AP Player of the Year in 1984 along with the ACC Player of the Year.
Jordan was a two-time All-American and collected the Wooden and Naismith Awards along with a Rupp Trophy in his college career.
Read More: Best North Carolina NBA player ever
5. Phil Ford – PG
School: UNC
Years: 1974-78
Phil Ford had an insane four-year career at North Carolina that included three All-ACC selections, three All-American nods, and the 1977-78 ACC Player of the Year. Ford made the All-ACC Tournament Team four teams along with winning the Wooden Award. He led UNC to the national championship game as a junior.
4. Tyler Hansbrough – C
School: UNC
Years: 2005-09
Tyler Hansbrough is the most decorated UNC player ever as he was named an All-American four times and All-ACC four times. He was both the AP Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year in 2008. Hansbrough helped Carolina win a national title while winning a Wooden Award, Rupp Trophy, and Naismith Award in his career.
Hansbrough was also the ACC Freshman of the Year and played in back-to-back Final Fours during his junior and senior seasons.
3. Christian Laettner – PF
School: Duke
Years: 1988-92
Christian Laettner is known for hitting that iconic shot in the Elite Eight vs Kentucky after a Grant Hill full-court inbound pass but Laettner’s career was so much more. Laettner is one of the greatest college players ever as he played in four Final Fours and three national title games. He helped Duke win back-to-back titles and was the 1991-92 AP Player of the Year.
Laettner made three All-ACC Teams, was the ACC Player of the Year in 1992, and won the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award. Also, he has a Naismith and Wooden Award along with a Rupp Trophy.
2. Tim Duncan – C
School: Wake Forest
Years: 1993-97
Before he went on to win five NBA titles with the Spurs, Tim Duncan dominated the college game at Wake Forest. Duncan was the 1996-97 AP Player of the Year and he was the ACC Player of the Year twice. A two-time All-American, Duncan also made the All-ACC Team three times. Winner of the Naismith Award, Wooden Award, and Rupp Trophy, Duncan was elite for the Demon Deacons.
1. David Thompson – SF
School: NC State
Years: 1972-75
David Thompson’s career at NC State was absurd as he led NC State to a 30-1 record as a sophomore and a national title. As a freshman, he helped the team to a 27-0 record but the Wolfpack were barred from the NCAA Tournament because of violations.
Thompson is one of college basketball’s greatest scorers and he won the AP Player of the Year Award twice while winning the ACC Player of the Year three times. Thompson was a three-time All-American and won the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award.
He added three All-ACC selections, a Naismith Award, and a Rupp Trophy while at NC State.
Read More: Best NBA player born in NC and best athletes from NC
