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NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of North Carolina of last decade

Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) reacts after making a basket with .3 seconds left against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half during the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. North Carolina won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) reacts after making a basket with .3 seconds left against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half during the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. North Carolina won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Luke Maye – North Carolina

A 6’8 forward from Huntersville, Maye certainly experienced quite the roller coaster ride during his career with North Carolina. Mostly as a reserve, he was part of the Tar Heels teams that lost the title game on a buzzer-beater to Villanova before cutting down the nets the following season. As an upperclassman, he was far more involved, becoming a star and major force for the Tar Heels himself.

His opportunities were limited early on, but he did score in double figures in three of North Carolina’s victories during their national championship run in 2017, including 17 points and the game-winning shot over Kentucky. In each of his final two seasons, he transformed into one of the nation’s most impressive forwards, averaging a double-double in both seasons, with 16.9 points a game as a junior while shooting 43% from long range.

A national champion and the ACC Most Improved Player, he was also a Third Team All-American as a junior and was twice a member of the All-ACC team. He was the conference leader in rebounding in each of those final seasons and was one of the best scoring forwards in the ACC as well. He certainly left his mark on the Tar Heels. Maye has continued his professional career since leaving college in 2019, spending much of the last three years playing overseas.