FlurrySports ranks the best point guards in North Carolina basketball history, including players all throughout the university’s historic existence.
Throughout the history of North Carolina basketball, a couple of things have created a theme. We know that UNC basketball will rebound the ball well and will run fast in transition. In order to run in transition, you must have an elite point guard who can get to the rim or make the right pass as quickly as possible. Luckily for North Carolina, they have had a run of elite point guards who can take over the game both on the fastbreak and in the half-court.
With names like Raymond Felton and Phil Ford, UNC basketball has a claim for the best collection of point guards in college basketball. With that being said, let’s try to narrow that list down to five and talk about the best point guards in North Carolina basketball history.
Best Point Guards in North Carolina Basketball History
5. Joel Berry (2014-18)
12.6 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.8 RPG, 41.9% FG, 36.6% 3PT
- 2017 NCAA Champion
- 2017 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- 1x ACC Tournament MVP
- No. 2 Honored by UNC
The three-time Florida Mr. Basketball joined the Tar Heel family in 2014. He really didn’t make an impact for North Carolina basketball until his sophomore season, when he was inserted into the starting lineup. While it might be somewhat cheating to include him on this list over Marcus Paige (because they both ran point at times), there is no doubt that Berry’s impact on the program is immense.
While Berry and Paige’s careers are very comparable, in regard to the impact they had on the program, the advantage goes to Berry for bringing home the National Championship in 2017. During that march to the championship, Berry played as well as anyone in the country, finishing with the 2017 NCAAT Most Outstanding Player. Standing at 6-1, Berry was intimidating on the court, but every time he got a shot up behind the arc, it seemed like it was going in. Berry followed up his run to the National Championship with an outstanding senior season, averaging 17 points per game (PPG) on 40% shooting from the field. Due to his efforts in the argyle, Berry’s No. 2 will be honored forever by North Carolina.
4. Kenny Smith (1983-87)
12.9 PPG, 6 APG, 2.2 RPG, 51.2% FG, 40.8% 3PT
- 1x Consensus All-American
- 3x All-American
- No. 30 Honored by UNC
Before he was a two-time NBA Champion and one of the better NBA analysts, Kenny Smith was the star point guard for UNC basketball. As I stated in the intro, North Carolina’s brand revolves around a fast point guard who can push the pace and initiate the offense. Smith was one of the first of that archetype in the Carolina system, as his blazing speed left defenders in the dust, while finishing at the rim as well as any guard in the country. On top of the speed, Smith will also be remembered as one of the best shooters in the history of North Carolina basketball. Shooting an incredible career 51% from the field, Smith did not have the advantage of the three-point line until his senior season. When college basketball adopted the three-point line, Smith took to it quickly, hitting on 41% of his attempts from behind the arc.
The only thing going against Smith in this ranking is his lack of postseason success. The three-time All-American was on several loaded Tar Heel squads that underperformed in the postseason, leaving Smith without that championship.
3. Raymond Felton (2002-05)
12.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 42.3% FG, 37.5% 3PT
- 2005 NCAA Champion
- 2005 Bob Cousy Award
- 3x All-ACC Team
- No. 2 Honored by UNC
In Roy Williams‘ second season at North Carolina, Raymond Felton really embraced the fast-paced transition offense, leading the 2005 team over a stacked Illinois squad to a National Championship. Over his career, Felton put together a 12.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.1 RPG stat line, and while those don’t seem like the greatest numbers of all time, his attitude and heart are what really stood out.
Going into his junior (and final) season at UNC, he reigned in his three-point shot, sinking them at a 44% rate. A far cry from his 31% season a year prior. With big personalities during his time in Chapel Hill, like Sean May and Rashad McCants, Felton always kept his level head and rarely felt out of control with the ball. That composure helped Carolina bring its first championship in 12 years. That is not to mention his defensive prowess. Felton was always asked to shut down the opposing team’s point guard, which again helped UNC win the 2005 championship with a game-ending steal late in the game. Sticking with his commitment to UNC after the 8-20, 2001-02 season, Felton quickly became a favorite to Tar Heel fans everywhere.
2. Ty Lawson (2006-09)
13.1 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.9 RPG, 51.7% FG, 40.3% 3PT
- 2009 NCAA Champion
- 2009 ACC Player of the Year
- 2009 Bob Cousy Award
- 1x Consensus All-American
- 1x All-ACC Team
- No. 5 Honored by UNC
If we were only looking at ranking these players based on one season, it would be hard to include Ty Lawson at the top spot (that just goes to show how good the number one spot was). Lawson’s 2009 season is among the best point guard runs in college basketball history. Now, I know what you are going to say, he had Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all on the team, so of course he was going to be good. Even with those three other NBA players, Lawson was able to put together a 16.6 PPG season on the way to an All-American selection, ACC Player of the Year selection and a National Championship.
To continue with the theme of blazing speed from the point guard position, there may not have been a faster guard than Lawson. He used that speed to make up for his 5-11 frame, finishing his UNC career with 1,375 points and 608 assists to just 219 turnovers. It is hard to stand out on a team with so much NBA talent, but in Lawson’s case, he goes down as the best point guard in Roy Williams’ tenure at UNC. One extra point for Lawson goes when considering his 5-0 record against Duke.
1. Phil Ford (1974-78)
- 1978 Wooden Award
- 1978 USBWA Player of the Year
- 1978 NABC Player of the Year
- 1978 Sporting News Player of the Year
- 1978 ACC Player of the Year
- 3x Consensus All-American
- 3x All-ACC Team
- No. 12 Retired by UNC
If it wasn’t for Tyler Hansbrough, Phil Ford would be the best player to ever step on the court at Chapel Hill. That includes being ranked higher than names like Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Vince Carter. Ford was that good.
The three-time All-American was as good a scorer as anyone in the country, who could stop on a dime and pull up at the midrange. Going toe-to-toe with David Thompson at NC State, Ford won his fair share of matchups. Ford capped his UNC basketball career with an incredible senior season. He averaged just short of 21 PPG, taking home the 1978 Wooden Award on top of another handful of National Player of the Year awards. It goes to show how good a player Ford was, as he is always ranked among the greatest North Carolina basketball players of all time, without winning a National Championship.
Ford was really the first dominant guard in the tradition of point guards at North Carolina and has still continued to be the best of the best for UNC.
