North Carolina Guide Honorable Mentions 

Shane Battier, Duke: A winner. More conference wins (69) and overall wins (131) than any player in ACC history. Top 15 all-time ACC in career steals, blocked shots, three-point field-goal percentage (16th in three-point field goals made) and minutes played. National Player of the Year in 2001.Three-time National Defensive Player of the Year.

Len Chappell, WFU: Two-time ACC Player of the Year, in 1961 and '62 and three-time first-team All-ACC. One of only two players to average over 30 points a game for a season (Virginia's Buzz Wilkinson was the other).

Dickie Hemric, WFU: Hemric's first two seasons at Wake Forest were prior to the founding of the ACC. So, depending on your inclination, he's either the ACC's all-time leading scorer (2,587) and rebounder (1,802), or he's not. Only seven other players in the ACC had more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He was the first- and second-ever ACC Player of the Year.

Art Heyman, Duke: In 1963 was selected ACC Player of the Year, ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four and National Player of the Year. Number one pick in the 1963 NBA draft.

Grant Hill, Duke: ACC Player of the Year and a National Player of the Year selection in 1994. The first player in ACC history with over 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocked shots. Went on to be terminally injured in the NBA. Considered a nice guy.

Michael Jordan, UNC: Granted, pretty good pro player. OK the best in history, but not North Carolina Travel Guide Top 10 All-Tobacco Road material due to having to play within the Carolina system. National Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year in 1984. Hit a sweet jumper to win the 1982 NCAA championship for the Tar Heels. But with all respect to Dean Smith, a Michael Jordon does not come around very often and when you get one you may as well let the system adapt to him instead of the other way around. But who knows? It probably made Michael the player he became in the pros.

JJ Reddick, Duke:Averaged 26.8 points his senior season, shooting 47 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line. His previous seasons were not much worse. He may have been the best shooter in NCAA history. Being the best player on Duke made him the most hated player around the league.

And a few guys from off Tobacco Road worth mentioning:

Len Bias, Maryland: Simply sublime to watch at work - smooth as a baby's be-hind. One of only nine multiple ACC Player of the Year winners (in '85 and '86). Bias died of an apparent cocaine overdose just after being selected second in the NBA draft.

John Lucas, Maryland: All-ACC first-team selection three times. First-team All-American in 1975 and '76. One of the best point guards to ever play in the ACC. The number one pick in the 1976 NBA draft. All-American and two-time ACC singles tennis champion in his spare time.

Mark Price, Georgia Tech: ACC Player of the Year in 1985. Was selected ACC Rookie of the Year in 1983 when he was the first freshman to lead the league in scoring. Sticking it to those who said he was too slow and/or small to be a playmaker in the NBA, he played a solid 12 seasons, four as an All-Star.

Ralph Sampson, Virginia: It sure doesn't hurt to be 7'4", but Sampson had the talent too. The Naismith Award winner as the best player in the country three years in a row; four-time first-team All-American and three-time ACC Player of the Year as well. Number one NBA draft choice in 1983.

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