No. 8: James Worthy

8

Name: James Worthy

Position: Forward

Jersey #: 52

Years: 1979-82

Honors: 1982 National Player of the Year; 1982 Final Four MOP; 2-time, 1st-team All-America in 1981 and 1982; 2-time All-ACC; 1982 ACC Tournament MVP; 1982 NCAA East Region MVP; ACC Athlete of the Year as a junior; Naismith Hall of Fame; Jersey No. 52 is retired.

Notable Stats: Averaged 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for his career; Shot 54.1 percent from the floor for his career; Scored 1,219 points in his career; 620 career rebounds; 208 career assists; 94 career blocked shots; 117 career steals;

In Closing: Worthy helped lead the Tar Heels to consecutive appearances in the national championship game, falling to Indiana in 1981 and defeating Georgetown in 1982. Worthy was the MOP after scoring 28 points in the win over the Hoyas, giving Dean Smith his first national championship. Worthy was famously out of position defensively on Georgetown’s final possession, but as a result was in the right spot as the Hoyas’ Fred Brown inadvertently passed him the ball. Led the Tar Heels to consecutive ACC Tournament titles in 1981 and 1982. Only played in 14 games as a freshman because of a broken foot. Only played in 84 career games. One of the greatest drop steps and spin moves and one of the quickest players on the lower blocks in UNC history, Worthy also took Carolina basketball to another level in terms of entertainment with his array of thunderous jams. Noted by the ACC in 2003 as one of its 50 best players of all time.

Prior Ranked Heels

30 - Brice Johnson

29 - Ed Cota

28 - Pete Brennan

27 - Mike O'Koren

26 - John "Hook" Dillon

25 - J.R. Reid

24 - Bobby Jones

23 - Brad Daugherty

22 - Raymond Felton

21 - Jerry Stackhouse

20 - Sean May

19 - Kenny Smith

18 - Joseph Forte

17 - Mitch Kupchak

16 - Ty Lawson

15 - Walter Davis

14 - George Glamack

13 - Bob Lewis

12 - Jack Cobb

11 - Al Wood

10 - Sam Perkins

9 - Billy Cunningham