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 1980-1984: Sam Perkins, #41 forward of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team looks to get the ball during a game at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – CIRCA 1980-1984: Sam Perkins, #41 forward of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team looks to get the ball during a game at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /

6. Sam Perkins (1980-84)

Sam Perkins played a big role for the North Carolina Tar Heels immediately and then never looked back. In his first season in Chapel Hill, he made waves with his overall production as he averaged 14.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 62.6 percent from the field. That performance ultimately earned him ACC Rookie of the Year honors and rightfully so.

The following season at UNC, the Tar Heels with Perkins, James Worthy and Michael Jordan would go on to win the National Championship after finishing as runners-up the previous season. Perkins was critical to their success that year as well, averaging 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

Though the Heels were not able to capture another title or even make it back to the Final Four in Perkins’ final two seasons with the program, his production remained consistent and undeniable. For his final two seasons, Perkins put up 17.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, proving to be an all-around monster that filled up the box score every night on both ends of the floor.

When his career concluded, Perkins had earned three first-team All-ACC honors, two Consensus All-American first-team selections and still sits in the North Carolina record books by ranking third in career points and blocks and second in career rebounds. Taking his statistical production and coupling that with the success that enjoyed, it’s not difficult to see why he comes close to cracking the top five of these rankings.