No. 4

Name: Michael Jordan

Position: Guard

Jersey #: 23

Years: 1981-84

Honors: Two-time National Player of the Year 1983 & 1984; Two-time consensus All-America 1983 & 1984; ACC Player of the Year 1984; Two-time first-team All-ACC 1983 & 1984; ACC Male Athlete of the Year 1984; All-ACC Tournament team 1982, 1983 & 1984; Freshman All-American 1982; ACC Rookie of the Year 1982; ACC Athlete of the year 1984; NCAA All-Tournament All-Time Team; Inducted into Naismith

Hall of Fame 2009; Jersey No. 23 is retired by UNC.

Notable Stats: Averaged 17.7 points and 5.0 rebounds for his career; Averaged 20 points per game as a sophomore; Led ACC in scoring with 19.4 points per game in 1984; 78 steals (4th highest UNC total) in 1983; shot 54 percent from the field; 181 career assists; 71 career blocked shots.

In Closing: As a freshman, Jordan hit the game-winning shot with 17 seconds left to lift the Tar Heels over Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA championship game. Made the Final Four all-tournament team that year. Had a flare for the dramatic, often making game-changing plays at key moments on either end of the court, sometimes turning his own great defensive play into a rim-rattling dunk. He was an outstanding defensive player, relentless competitor, and a player who elevated everyone’s game around him. Jordan helped the Heels to an undefeated ACC mark in 1984.

Showed up in the big games just about every time, including a 32-point, seven-rebound, five-assist performance in a win over Duke in 1983, leading a top-ranked UNC comeback over No. 2 Virginia and Ralph Sampson after trailing by 16 with 8:43 left: Anyone remember the tip in over Sampson followed by the steal and dunk to give UNC the lead that immediately followed?

Many of the fiber in his game that the rest of the world later came to know was infused and woven during his three years in Chapel Hill. Named by ESPN at the No 1 Male Athlete of the 20th century and by the ACC as its No. 1 Male Athlete in its first 50 years in 2003. UNC now uses Jordan Brand for all its athletic shoes and gear.

Part of UNC’s actual athletic brand is because of Jordan, who is regarded by many as the greatest player to ever live when also accounting his NBA and international (Olympics, et at) career. His association with UNC continues to help the program’s image and reputation.