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

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 – DECEMBER 28: Tyler Hansbrough #50 of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks on the court during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on December 28, 2008 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

1. Tyler Hansbrough (2005-09)

Tyler Hansbrough comes in as the best North Carolina basketball player of all time and, frankly, it’s not really much of a question if that’s the case. When you look at what Hansbrough did individually, what his teams achieved while he was there and the awards and achievements that he racked up over his four years in college, there’s no other player in program history that comes close.

Statistically, Hansbrough was dominant throughout his entire career, never averaging fewer than 18 points per game or fewer than 7.5 rebounds per game in a season. He finished his 142-game career in Chapel Hill averaging 20.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the floor and making 6.9 free throws per game, one of his calling cards as an aggressive, physical player in the post. He set the UNC record for points and rebounds in a career.

In terms of his accolades, Hansbrough was a first-team All-ACC selection in all four seasons, a Consensus All-American in all four seasons (second team as a freshman, first team the other three years), won ACC Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and swept the National Player of the Year awards in 2009 as well.

For good measure, Hansbrough also ended his career on top. After making the Final Four in 2008 and failing to get to the title game, they ran the gauntlet in 2009 to cut down the nets for the Tar Heels’ fifth title.

Hansbrough isn’t just an all-time great for North Carolina basketball — he’s an all-time great for the sport of college basketball at large. In terms of his production, success on both an individual and team level and his general embodiment of the college game, there are few that can compare to Hansbrough. In fact, none to ever pass through Chapell Hill can.

Next. 30 greatest college basketball players this century. dark