NCAA Basketball: Ranking the last 25 AP Player of the Year award winners
By Connor Hope
One of the toughest players to defend in NCAA history, Antawn Jamison’s size and quick release allowed him to get shots off easily and efficiently. It was difficult to merit ranking him ahead of the legend that is Tyler Hansbrough. In the end, his regular-season performance was simply better.
Helped by the play of point guard Ed Cota, Jamison finished the regular season shooting over 61 percent from the floor. He put together the first 20/10 season for North Carolina in over 30 years. His defense was nearly as good as his offense.
When comparing Jamison’s season to Hansbrough’s, the difference in points and rebound are nearly a wash. This is where we are forced to look at how strong they were in other aspects of the game. While both stars were incredibly strong on offense, Jamison may have been slightly more efficient on the defensive end, specifically in the paint.
What may have been most impressive was Jamison’s ability to perform at this level, while sharing the spotlight with Vince Carter and Shammond Williams. This trio may not have had quite the same success as Hansbrough’s North Carolina team, losing two Final Four games in a row, but Jamison’s rise to prominence over his teammates was impressive.
Honestly, 1998 Jamison over 2008 Hansbrough is the one decision I expect to garner the most push back on and understandably so. However, whether it is nostalgia controlling this decision or not, I truly believe Jamison’s junior year was the most impressive from a North Carolina player in recent memory.