Fansided

Ranking the top 30 UNC basketball players in program history

By Cooper Watson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 7: Michael Jordan kisses former coach Dean Smith of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a halftime ceremony honoring the 1993 national championship team during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Dean Smith Center on March 7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 7: Michael Jordan kisses former coach Dean Smith of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a halftime ceremony honoring the 1993 national championship team during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Dean Smith Center on March 7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 09: A detailed photo of a Nike basketball during the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Loyola Greyhounds at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 09: A detailed photo of a Nike basketball during the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Loyola Greyhounds at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

21. Mike O’Koren (1976-80)

As a freshman in 1976-77, Mike O’Koren helped Phil Ford and Walter Davis lead UNC to the National Championship game. After that rookie success, O’Koren proceeded to be a three-time All-American and All-ACC selection.

Over his four seasons, O’Koren averaged 15.1 PPG and 7.0 RPG, helping to successfully bridge the gap between the Phil Ford and James Worthy eras in Chapel Hill. He finished with over 1,500 career points and 800 total rebounds, but perhaps O’Koren’s most impressive statistical achievement as a 6-7 forward is his top 10 career ranking in steals with 183—one behind Ty Lawson, for reference.

From 1977-1979, North Carolina won three straight ACC regular-season titles with O’Koren as the common thread among players. O’Koren’s Heels also won ACC Tournament titles in 1977 and 1979. Although his name is frequently overshadowed by Ford and Worthy on either side, O’Koren’s career success was incredibly important in maintaining UNC’s consistency as the elite program in the ACC at the time.