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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1923: Jack Cobb of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses for a portrait circa 1923. (Photo by Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /

23. Jack Cobb (1923-26)

One of only two pre-ACC (1954) players that appear on this set of rankings, Jack Cobb undoubtedly is deserving of the distinction. Though it was an unbelievably different era that he played in during the early 1920s, the Durham native was dominant for his time and led the program to incredible success.

While Cobb, who stood 6-foot-2, would be an average-sized point guard in the modern game, he was a large player for the 1920s and he was a scoring machine due to that, averaging more than 15 points per game. And yes, that was a lot back in those days of college basketball.

With Cobb leading the way, the Tar Heels won the Southern Conference Championship in three consecutive seasons from 1924-26. Moreover, Cobb led North Carolina to their first undefeated season in 1924, a year in which they were retroactively named National Champions two years after the fact. Furthermore, Cobb was named the national player of the year for his efforts that season as well.

Considering the era in which he played, there is very little to note about Cobb’s statistical production but he was clearly a dominant figure of his time in the college basketball ranks.

Having said that, Cobb is one of eight players in North Carolina basketball history to have his number retired — except that he didn’t wear a number in that era of the sport, so it’s merely his jersey that’s retired. Even still, he’s among the elite of the program in that regard and, thus, deserving of the No. 23 spot here.