ACC Basketball: All-time starting five for each program (1980-2019)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
PG – Chris Thomas (2001-2005)
I didn’t even have to research this selection. Thomas was quite simply a joy to watch from the moment he arrived in South Bend. The 2002 Big East Rookie of the Year and was top 15 in the Big East in scoring in each of his four seasons on campus. His 2,195 points are 10th in Big East History. His 833 career assists rank 2nd All-Time in the Big East, while his 244 steals rank 15th all-time.
In 128 career games, the 4x All-Big East selection averaged 17.1 points, 6.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Thomas suffered some injuries later in his career that affected his explosiveness and never got a chance in the NBA. He carved out a nice professional career overseas from 2005-2012.
SG – Jerian Grant (2011-2015)
I wrote a piece for a different site about a year ago and ranked Grant way too low. I will not make the same mistake here. Most notably known for “the dunk” against Georgia Tech, Grant was an incredible player for Mike Brey. Grant was well on his way to having an incredible season in 2013-14, averaging 19 points, 6.2 assists, and 2 steals, but was deemed academically ineligible after the first semester. He figured that out and returned to school for his senior season and led the Fighting Irish to the Elite Eight and a 32-6 record.
For his career, Grant averaged 14.6 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds along with 1.5 steals per game. He was both an All-Big East and All-ACC selection during his career and led the ACC in assists, free throws, and points produced in 2014-15. Jerian was selected 19th overall in the 2015 NBA draft and just finished up his 4th season. He is currently playing for the Orlando Magic.
SF – Pat Garrity (1994-1998)
Another great scorer that I grew up watching. Garrity was on some really bad Notre Dame teams, but that didn’t make him any less fun to watch. At 6-foot-9, he could play anywhere on the court and was not a player plagued by conscience. For his career, he averaged 14 field goal attempts per game and led the Irish in scoring all four seasons he was on campus. During his junior and senior years alone, he totaled over 1,200 points and nearly 450 rebounds.
Garrity was a 3x All-Big East Selection and the 1997 Big East Player of the Year when he averaged 21 points and 7 rebounds per game. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Garrity 19th in the 1998 NBA draft. He averaged 7 points and 2.5 rebounds in over 550 career games at the next level.
PF – Luke Harangody (2006-2010)
It is so easy to forget how good some players were. e simply take them for granted. Harangody may be the poster boy for that. If I put a list together and told you to guess the players since 1992-93 who averaged 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, how long would it take you to get to Harangody? There are 74 total seasons that exist in that time frame, Luke Harangody owns three of those.
For his career, the Goat averaged 19.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He ranks first in Big East history in field goals made and 4th overall in NCAA history. His 1,222 rebounds rank him 3rd in Big East history. Harangody has played a bit in the NBA and NBA summer leagues, but his career has mostly been overseas. He is currently playing in Spain.
C – Troy Murphy (1998-2001)
Murphy was a 6-foot-11 center who had no problem drilling triples or getting you on his hip and drop stepping his way to a posterizing dunk. He had a handle, he had skill, and he had some flash to his game.
The 2x Big East Player of the Year never averaged fewer than 19 points or 9.2 rebounds in three seasons in South Bend. His 839 points in 2000-01 led the Big East and were second in the NCAA. He is third in Big East history in points per game at 21.4.
Murphy was selected 14th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. In 729 career games, he averaged 10.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Others considered: Bonzie Colson, LaPhonso Ellis, Ben Hansbrough, Demetrius Jackson, Monty Williams, Danny Graves, Matt Carroll, and Ryan Humphrey.