Fansided

North Carolina basketball: Ranking the 27 best Tar Heels of all time

By Cody Williams

CHAPEL HILL, NC - 1983: Michael Jordan #23 of the North Carolina Tar Heels sits in the huddle against the Clemson Tigers circa 1983 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1983 NBAE (Photo by Anthony Neste/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - 1983: Michael Jordan #23 of the North Carolina Tar Heels sits in the huddle against the Clemson Tigers circa 1983 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1983 NBAE (Photo by Anthony Neste/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC- CIRCA 1984-87: Kenny Smith #30 of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball upcourt at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, circa 1984-87. (Photo by North Carolina/Collegiate Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC- CIRCA 1984-87: Kenny Smith #30 of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball upcourt at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, circa 1984-87. (Photo by North Carolina/Collegiate Images) /

19. Kenny Smith (1983-87)

When you talk about the great shooters in the history of North Carolina basketball, there are certainly many names that could be mentioned. Though his time was brief, Joseph Forte had to be in the conversation. Meanwhile, Rashad McCants definitely made his mark as a lethal outside jump-shooter. And there are plenty of other players that are in the conversation. Kenny Smith, however, stands chief among them.

Throughout his time playing under Dean Smith, Kenny Smith was an All-ACC selection three times (second-team as a sophomore and junior, first-team as a senior) and a first-team All-American in his final season with the Tar Heels. While he was successful throughout his college career at all points, Smith’s overall averages do leave a bit to be desired.

The guard averaged 12.9 points, 6.0 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game throughout the 127 games that he played in his collegiate career. Moreover, he shot 51.2 percent from the floor for his career, including 40.8 percent from 3-point range in his senior campaign (the only year of his career that metric was kept). However, he earned his All-American nod with a big-time senior year as he put up 16.9 points, 6.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

Though Smith joined the Tar Heels the year after they won the 1982 National Championship and played alongside the likes of Michael Jordan early on, he never captured a title and, in fact, never made it to the Final Four. Still, his shooting and prowess as a floor general earn him a seat at No. 19 in these rankings.