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

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DETROIT – APRIL 06: Tyler Hansbrough #50 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates with his teammates after they won 89-72 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

North Carolina Tar Heels

PG – Ty Lawson (2006-2009)

This may have been the toughest pick of the entire list. I could have put six or seven different names in this slot whereas the other four spots are pretty much gimmes. Lawson was a point guard who flourished in the Roy Williams offense. It was made for him. The 2009 ACC Player of the Year averaged 13.1 points, 5.8 assists and 3 rebounds per game for his career. In the 2009 NCAA Tournament, he averaged 20.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game; he recorded 7 total turnovers in 165 minutes played.

Lawson was selected 18th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. He averaged 12.7 points, 6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game in 551 career games. He is currently playing for Shandong Golden Stars in China.

SG – Michael Jordan (1981-1984)

The Greatest. Air Jordan. The easiest selection of the entire 75 person roster. We all know the story of Air Jordan. Couldn’t make varsity in high school until junior year and went on to hit one of the most famous shots in NCAA Tournament history. He would then go on to become the great basketball player that ever lived. In three seasons in Chapel Hill, he scored 1,788 points, snagged over 500 rebounds and swiped over 160 steals. He would be the 3rd overall selection in the 1984 NBA draft behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie.

Jordan would go on to be a 5x MVP, 14x All-Star, 10x scoring champ, 11x All-NBA selection, and 6x world champion. The GOAT.

SF – James Worthy (1979-1982)

Worthy definitely lives up to his name here. There are many highlight reels displaying North Carolina greats and Worthy is an as many as anyone else. One of the first hybrid forwards, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 84 games for the Heels.

The 2x All-ACC player teamed with Jordan to bring down Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the 1982 National Championship game and went on to be “Big Game James” with the Showtime Lakers.

Worthy finished his NBA career as a 7x All-Star and a Hall of Fame Induction. He was a 2x All-NBA selection and a 3x Champion.

PF – Antawn Jamison (1995-1998)

The 6-foot-9 power forward had a polish to his game from the second he stepped on campus. He was known for his ability to get the ball, make one move, and score. For instance, in a game against Duke in 1998, Jamison scored 35 points on 14-for-20 from the floor and had the ball in his hands for a total of 53 seconds in the game. He wasn’t exactly playing against a bum either. The man guarding him? Future Naismith award winner Elton Brand.

Jamison played in Chapel Hill for a trio of seasons and totaled 1,974 points and snagged over 1,000 rebounds. His 57.7% career field goal percentage is the 6th-best in ACC history. He was a 3x All-ACC selection and brought home the Wooden, Rupp, and Naismith Awards. ACC Tourney MVP. 1998 Player of the Year and on and on and on.

Jamison was selected 4th in the 1998 NBA draft and played until 2014. He averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while being a 2x All-Star.

C – Tyler Hansbrough (2006-2009)

Psycho T. The man who caused the bad end of the reason why I will always dislike Gerald Henderson. Until Hansbrough showed up, I had never seen a player so ready to play college basketball in my life. I have seen a few on his level since. As a true freshman, Hansbrough averaged 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 57% from the floor. He put up those numbers against the likes of Shelden Williams, Craig Smith, and Erik Williams. Simply incredible.

Hansbrough needed two trophy cases for his four seasons in Chapel Hill. He was a 4x CONSENSUS All-American, Rupp, Wooden, Naismith Award winner, Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, National Champion and many more. Of all the frontcourt talent to come through Chapel Hill, Psycho T is the best big man I have ever seen with my own two eyes to wear Carolina Blue.

Hansbrough played seven seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. Since 2017, he has been playing in China.

Others considered: Ed Cota, Vince Carter, Shammond Williams, Jeff McInnis, Raymond Felton, Donald Williams, Brice Johnson, Rashad McCants, Sam Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Brad Daugherty, George Lynch and many more.