ACC Basketball: All-time starting five for each program (1980-2019)

DETROIT - APRIL 06: Tyler Hansbrough #50 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates with fans as he run off the court after the Tar Heels 89-72 win against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game at Ford Field on April 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after after a play on the way to defeating the Florida State Seminoles 73-63 in the championship game of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

ACC basketball has been home to some of the top players in all of college hoops history. Which players make up the all-time starting five for each program?

Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to think of topics during the college basketball offseason. Quality content is often replaced with top 25 lists that are half a year early or court cases that end up not mattering. I prefer controversy.

Today, I want to take a look at all 15 ACC programs and put together their all-time teams. This is sure to work someone into a lather and that is what I am here for. My only request is that when you respond to this piece, and I encourage that, that you give me your entire top five as well. For instance, when I put Trevon Duval as Duke’s point guard instead of Jay Williams and you scream “Jay Williams” at me, you have to provide your other four selections as well. I’m just kidding, I would never do that, but it would amuse me to no end.

A couple of notes from writing this piece.

Duke, Wake Forest, and North Carolina were the easiest lists to compile.
Virginia Tech had easily the smallest pool of elite players to select from.
Georgia Tech and Virginia were the two most difficult to pare down.
Way too many greats listed on this piece were cut down due to injuries.
Even though this is an ACC piece, we all miss out by not having the old Big East.

Here are the rules:

All players are eligible regardless of whether or not they played while the program was an ACC member.
I am only going back to 1980.
You don’t talk about Fight Club.
That’s it. Those are the rules.

Teams will be listed in alphabetical order and I will do my best to justify each pick. This will also not be some crazy position-less basketball example. In most cases, it will be two guards, two forwards, and a pivot. You will not see a team with five point guards or five centers. There may be instances where we stretch a little bit. You may see a third guard there or simply two point guards.

Here we go…