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