The Atlantic Coast Conference also known as the ACC has been around since 1953 and has produced many National Champions in basketball. The ACC is home to some great basketball programs such as North Carolina and Duke.
The ACC also has had some great coaches such as Jim Valvano, Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski. Above else however, it’s the players that make these programs tick and here are the five greatest ACC basketball players of all time.
5. Tim Duncan: Wake Forest
Tim Duncan played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 1993-1997. In four years with Wake Forest Tim Duncan led the team to a 97-31 overall record. In 1995 and 1996 the team went 26-6 in back to back seasons and earned the number one and number two seed in the NCAA tournament.
Duncan won the ACC player of the year award twice, in 1996 and 1997. Duncan averaged nearly 17 points per game and 12 rebounds per game. In his senior year he led the entire ACC conference in scoring, blocked shots, rebounding and field goal percentage.
When Duncan left Wake Forest he was the ACC’s all time shot block leader. Duncan went on to have an amazing career in the NBA, getting picked first overall by the San Antonio Spurs and winning five titles with the Spurs.
4. Tyler Hansbrough: North Carolina
Tyler Hansbrough played for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2005-2009. Hansbrough had a legendary career at North Carolina. He was named the 2006 ACC freshman of the year. He was also named to the ACC all-conference team all four years he played.
Hansbrough is the ACC conference all time scorer with over 2800 points. Hansbrough is also the only player in the history of the ACC to lead his team all four years in scoring and rebounds. Hansbrough was a first team All-American in his junior and senior year.
Hansbrough was also the AP NCAA player of the year in 2008 and in his senior year he led his team to the March Madness title in 2009 after beating Michigan State. Hansbrough went on to be drafted in the first round by the Indiana Pacers.
3. David Thompson: NC State
David Thompson played for the NC State Wolfpack from 1972-1975. In 86 games Thompson scored over 2300 points. Thompson still holds records for NC State. He holds the record for most points scored in a single season with 838 in 1974-1975. He also has the record for most points scored in a single game with 57.
In all three seasons at NC State, Thompson was a first team All-American. Thompson and the Wolfpack went a perfect 27-0 in 1973. Thompson also led the Wolfpack to a March Madness title in 1974 after defeating Marquette.
Thompson went on to be the number one overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
2. Christian Laettner: Duke
Christian Laettner played for the Duke Blue Devils from 1988-1992. Laettner is one of only four players to be on the floor in four separate Final Fours. To this day Laettner has the NCAA tournament records for most free throws attempted and made, games played and points scored.
Laettner led the Blue Devils to back to back NCAA titles in 1991 and 1992. Laettn er was the AP NCAA player of the year in his senior year in 1992.
Laettner went on to be drafted third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves but did not see the same success that he did in college.
1. Michael Jordan: North Carolina
Michael Jordan played for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1981-1984. Jordan not only had a stellar NBA career, he also had a great NCAA career as well. Jordan won the freshman of the year award and was a first team All-American in 1983 and 1984.
Jordan won an NCAA title as a freshman and even hit the game winning shot. In his final season at UNC Jordan won the Naismith award. Jordan went on to have the greatest NBA career of all time with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan won six NBA titles to go along with his NCAA title.
