ACC Basketball: Top Players From Each Team This Century, Part 2
By Logan Butts
Part two of the 21st century’s best players series takes a look at the second of half of ACC Basketball, which features some multi-time National Champions and All-Americans.
After getting started with the ACC in the debut of this series earlier this week, it is time to take a look at the best players of the 21st century for the rest of the ACC squads.
N.C. State
Starting Five: Julius Hodge, TJ Warren, Cat Barber, Richard Howell, Dennis Smith Jr.
Bench: Tracy Smith, Marcus Melvin, C.J. Leslie, Lorenzo Brown, Trevor Lacey, Brandon Costner
MVP: Hodge was a force to reckon with in his time with the Wolfpack. He played at his best in big games: career-highs in the ACC Tournament, a March Madness game-winner over UCONN, and beating Duke and UNC in back-to-back games.
A Warren-Hodge-Barber-Smith lineup could score on anyone. Not so sure that they could stop anyone though.
North Carolina
Starting Five: Tyler Hansbrough, Marcus Paige, Sean May, Joseph Forte, Ty Lawson
Bench: Raymond Felton, Brendan Haywood, Rashad McCants, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes, Brice Johnson, Justin Jackson, Kendall Marshall, Joel Berry
Practice Squad: James Michael McAdoo, John Henson, Danny Green, Reyshawn Terry, David Noel, Jawad Williams, Jason Capel, Reggie Bullock
MVP: As much as I personally cannot stand him, Hansbrough was a four-time (!) All-American. That is as rare of a resume point as it gets.
This group is stacked, especially when it comes to playmaking point guards. I would love to see this crew take on Duke’s 21st-century team. UNC is more balanced, but the Blue Devils match them in top end talent.