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 1982-1986: Brad Daugherty, #42 center of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team poses for a photo at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by University of North Carolina/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – CIRCA 1982-1986: Brad Daugherty, #42 center of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team poses for a photo at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by University of North Carolina/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /

15. Brad Daugherty (1982-86)

When Brad Daugherty arrived in Chapel Hill, it was clear that the big man was talented but he was also exceptionally young. Daugherty entered his college career at just 16 years old, joining the program alongside Kenny Smith and playing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan after winning the 1982 National Championship. Even at his young age, though, Daugherty showed he could make an impact given his blend of size and skill while still maturing.

Over his first two seasons with the Tar Heels, Daugherty averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 block in 25.2 minutes per game while shooting 58.5 percent from the field. Again, he was hard to keep off of the floor because of his God-given physical gifts, but he was also not physically mature enough to handle the rigors of big-time minutes.

That, however, changed during Daugherty’s junior year at North Carolina where he saw his minutes increase from 27.4 per game as a sophomore to 34.7. And with that increase in workload, Daugherty thrived. He put up 17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game that season on 62.5 percent shooting and then got even better in his senior year. For his final season with the Heels, the big man put up 20.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while hitting 64.8 percent of his shots.

His senior year earned him first-team All-American honors and saw him picked first overall in the 1986 NBA Draft. And while the college success as a team wasn’t overly abundant, Daugherty’s contributions are undeniable.