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

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA – JANUARY 17: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates his three-point shot in the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers during the game at Conte Forum on January 17, 2015 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Boston College Eagles

PG – Troy Bell (1999-2003)

The first name is an easy one. Bell amassed 2,632 points during his career as an Eagle. He is the all-time leading points scorer in the Big East since 1985-86 and it really isn’t close. Second on the list is Terry Dehere, who trails by 138 points. For his career, he averaged 21.6 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. His arrival was the beginning of Al Skinner’s run with Boston College, making seven NCAA Tournaments in nine seasons.

SG – Olivier Hanlan (2012-2015)

Neck and neck with Jerome Robinson, but Hanlan was good from the day he set foot on campus. He played on some poor teams and had very little help, which may make his numbers more impressive because he was still efficient. In three seasons, he played 97 games and started 95 before turning pro following his junior season. He never averaged less than 15.5 points and never logged a usage rate lower than 25%.

SF – Jared Dudley (2003-2007)

The second-easiest selection behind Bell. Dudley arrived in Chestnut Hill very little following. He was not ranked by Rivals and, according to the database, only held offers from the Eagles, Creighton, and San Diego State. He was an incredibly cerebral player and scored from Day 1, averaging double figures in all four seasons.

Dudley played 130 games over his four-year career and started every single one of them. He teamed with fellow Californian’s Craig Smith and Sean Marshall to win 77 games in their three seasons together and were at one point ranked No. 3 in the country during the 2004-05 season. He finished his Eagle career with 2,071 points, 565 rebounds, and 395 assists. He just finished his 12th season in the NBA.

PF – Craig Smith (2002-2006)

Smith, another unranked Californian (though he attended Worcester Academy), came to Boston College with little esteem. He quickly made a name for himself, averaging 19.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a freshman for a 19-win team that won the then Big East’s East Division.

Somewhat undersized at 6’7, Smith was an absolute brute on the court and one of the best rebounders the Big East have ever seen. He was named to the Big East Freshman Team in his first season and made either first-team Big East or ACC in each of his final three seasons. He finished his career with 2,374 points and 1,114 rebounds. He is second in the Boston College record book in scoring behind only Troy Bell. Due to the conference switch, he didn’t make the Big East record books, but he had more career rebounds than Emeka Okafor or Alonzo Mourning and more points than Derrick Coleman or Ryan Gomes.

C – Bill Curley (1990-1994)

Finally, we can go back a ways. Curley is often overlooked due to an unspectacular professional career that was derailed due to injuries, but he was an absolute beast in college.

A Massachusetts native, Curley is one of only two BC players since 1992-93 to average 20 points and 9 rebounds per game. He led the Eagles to the Elite Eight in 1994, which was their first tournament since 1985. He is currently 17th on the Big East all-time scoring list at 2,102 points and 15th on the rebounding list at 996.

Others considered: John Bagley, Dana Barros, Danya Abrams, Michael Adams, Jerome Robinson, and Tyrese Rice.