The latest first has come to the current era of college football, with name, image and likeness (NIL) reigning supreme.

Now that we’re a quarter of the way through the 21st Century, it’s time to look back at the past 25 years of Carolina basketball.

The UNC basketball program has had some elite talent come through Chapel Hill, making it extremely difficult to name an All-Quarter Century Team. In fact, you probably could identify quite a few players who missed our list but would’ve made the squad for most other college basketball programs.

As difficult as it was, we came up with our team, comprised of 13 players.

How did we decide on 15? Well, we know that Division I programs have 13 scholarships to work with every year, but rosters are typically as many as 15 (with walk-ons). So, we took the liberty in using the spots wisely, as we all know there are more than 15 Tar Heels that could make a strong case to be on this list!

When compiling our roster, we considered several areas. Obviously, you’re not making this squad if you’re not talented, but there are other variables we considered, such as (but not limited to):

-College Production
-Team Success (during their time in Chapel Hill)
-Overall Legacy
-Years Spent at UNC (yes, long-term players benefited more than one-and-dones, but there is at least one exception)

As you probably already expected, this wasn’t an easy task! However, we’ve come up with our team, and we want to hear what you think!

Without further adieu… here’s your UNC Basketball All-Quarter Century Team.

Starters

Point Guard: Ty Lawson (2006-2009)

The point guard position was arguably the toughest to figure out, as both Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton are very strong options to start on this squad.

Lawson gets the edge based on a more decorated resume, as his Consensus All-American nod and ACC Player of the Year Award gave him the edge over Felton, a player who earned three first-team All-ACC selections.

I mean, this is a really good problem to have, even though the choice is a difficult one to make!

Shooting Guard: Wayne Ellington (2006-2009)

You could make the case that the 2009 Tar Heels don’t win the national championship without Ellington. The sharpshooter knocked down 7 of his 10 shots from beyond-the-arc during the Final Four, earning Most Outstanding Player honors.

Ellington was never afraid of the big moment, putting together his best performances in ACC and NCAA Tournament play. He was an NCAA All-Tournament and All-Region selection, and was named to the All-ACC Tournament team on three separate occasions.

When you put on the Carolina blue, you must be ready for the big-time spotlight. Wayne Ellington was more than ready for it.

Small Forward: Harrison Barnes (2010-2012)

Still to this day, Harrison Barnes is the highest-ranked recruit that the UNC basketball program has landed. Fortunately, he lived up to the hype, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors (becoming the ninth player in program history to do so).

He followed his stellar rookie season up by leading the Tar Heels to the ACC regular-season title, the ACC tournament finals, and the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament.

Power Forward: Tyler Hansbrough (2005-2009)

Without a doubt, Hansbrough was the easiest pick for this team. The 2008 National Player of the Year, “Psycho T’s” jersey isn’t retired by coincidence: he left the program as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder and led the UNC basketball program to a national championship.

Even considering all the elite players who have worn the Carolina Blue over the years, it’s hard to find a player (or players) with a better college career as a Tar Heel than Hansbrough.

Center: Sean May (2002-2005)

A dominant big man in the post, Sean May is best known for leading the UNC basketball program to the 2005 national title, earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the tournament.

Let’s face it: opposing teams are going to STRUGGLE to out-rebound the duo of Sean May and Tyler Hansbrough!

Reserves (in alphabetical order)

Armando Bacot (2019-2024)

Bacot served as a dominant force for the UNC basketball program during his five years in Chapel Hill. The program’s all-time leading rebounder, Bacot was a double-double machine, playing a major role in the Tar Heels’ trip to the 2022 national championship game.

Sure, he benefitted from having an additional season of eligibility due to COVID. However, you can’t take away from the fact that he was the face of the UNC basketball program during his time on campus, putting together a career for the record books.

Joel Berry II (2014-2018)

From a guy who doubted whether he belonged in Chapel Hill to one who has his No. 2 jersey hanging in the Dean Smith Center rafters, Joel Berry II is a testament to what hard work, loyalty, and dedication can do for you.

Berry developed into an All-ACC caliber guard during his time in Chapel Hill, putting together an outstanding resume to look back on. He played a integral part in the Tar Heels’ national title team in 2017, helping avenge the devastating loss in the finals a season prior. He earned Most Outstanding Player honors for that title run, proving just how valuable he was in guiding the UNC basketball program to another title.

Raymond Felton (2002-2005)

Honestly, you could really mix-and-match with Lawson and Felton at the point guard spot among the starting unit.

Felton was a All-ACC Selection each season he spent in Chapel Hill, taking the reins of the point guard position from the moment he arrived on campus. Consistency was his biggest asset, as he provided consistent presence offensively and defensively. While he could score the basketball, one of his best traits was facilitating the rock, assisting in finding open looks for his teammates to capitalize on.

Joseph Forte (1999-2001)

Forte’s two seasons in Chapel Hill were absolutely brilliant.

As a freshman, Forte was named th ACC Rookie of the Year. He followed that season up by being tabbed as the ACC Player of the Year and a Consensus First-Team All-American, averaging 20.9 points per game while shooting 45% from the floor (including 37.7% from beyond-the-arc).

Among this elite group of talent, Forte might just be the best pure scorer that this team has to offer.

Danny Green (2005-2009)

Green might not have the individual accolades that other on this list have, but he is the definition of what an all-around “glue guy” should be.

In order to be successful as a team, you need guys like Green: someone who is willing to do whatever the team needs to succeed. This shows in his overall stats as a member of the UNC basketball program, as he is the only player in Tar Heel history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 150 threes, 150 steals, and 100 blocks.

Green did anything the Tar Heels needed him to (whether he was coming off the bench of starting), and ended up being a major contributor for the 2009 title team.

Justin Jackson (2014-2017)

The 2016-2017 season for Justin Jackson was one of the best individual seasons we’ve seen from a member of the UNC basketball program.

Jackson took his game to a whole new level, averaging 6.1 more points per-game than he did as a sophomore. He earned the ACC Player of the Year Award and was a Consensus First-Team All-American in a season in which the Tar Heels captured their sixth national title.

Brice Johnson (2012-2016)

Johnson was dominant during his senior season at North Carolina, earning Consensus All-American honors. He finished the season averaging a double-double, setting new career highs in points per game (17), and rebounds (10.4), shooting the basketball at an elite 61.4%.

A two-time All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament honoree, Johnson was your prototypical big man to come through the program during the Roy Williams era. Williams had a knack for easing his big men into action, as the steady growth was evident over their four years with the program.

Johnson saw his role increase each season, ending his college career as arguably the country’s best big man and an eventual first round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Kendall Marshall (2010-2012)

Marshall was the best passer to play for the UNC basketball program over the past 25 seasons, setting the program’s single-season assist record of 351. He absolutely crushed the previous ACC single-season mark, a record that was previously set by Craig Neal of Georgia Tech (311 assists).

If it wasn’t for a cheap shot (courtesy of Creighton), the Tar Heels were in a prime position to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. However, Marshall’s fractured wrist derailed the Tar Heels’ title hopes, as they went on to lose to Kansas in the regional finals while their point guard was sidelined.

Marshall became the third UNC basketball player to win the Bob Cousy award, joining fellow All-Quarter Century team selections Felton (2005) and Lawson (2009).

Marcus Paige (2012-2016)

Paige is a guy that UNC basketball fans wish had a better ending to his career. While his acrobatic shot (followed by a heartbreaking buzzer-beater by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins) is a sequenece that haunts us all to this day, Paige was stellar in his four-year career at North Carolina.

A three-time captain, Paige concluded his career with the UNC basketball program ranking No. 11 at in scoring (1,844 points), first in three-pointers made (299), third in steals (203), fourth in free throw percentage (.844) and eighth in assists (602).

Marvin Williams (2004-2005)

Williams was a “one-and-done” in Chapel Hill, but there’s no possible way you could leave him off this list.

Serving as the Tar Heels sixth man (yes, that’s just how good that 2004-2005 squad was!) Williams earned ACC Rookie of the Year Honors. His famous tip-in against Illinois in the national championship game is a play UNC basketball fans remember fondly, capping off his tremendous lone season at North Carolina.

This dude was so good, that he went on to be the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft after not starting a single game at the college level!

Evanson: The transfer portal is not just an NCAA problem, it’s become a prep one as well

Published 4:00 am Friday, June 20, 2025

Since the NCAA allowed athletes to cash in on NIL (name, image, and likeness), the number of basketball players declaring early for the NBA draft has steadily declined. In 2021, 363 players—including international players and NCAA athletes—entered their names. This year, the total has dropped to 106 players, the fewest since 2016. Fifty-one “non-international” players have since opted out, leaving just 32 non-international players in the draft.

The opportunity to earn money in college gives players leverage they’ve never had before when negotiating with NBA teams. Agents are advising many players to remain in college due to the NIL earnings—and new revenue-sharing dollars from the House v. NCAA settlement—two agents tell Front Office Sports. 

“If you are not a guaranteed first-round pick, top-20, top-30 guy—unless you really do not want to play college basketball anymore, we are recommending and most of them are staying in school as long as they possibly can,” Michael Raymond, president and founder of Raymond Representation, tells FOS. 

For those with little to no chance of making an NBA roster, the calculus is obvious. But even for players on the bubble of being a first-round pick, eschewing the draft is often the best option. 

In the pre-NIL era, players would be happy to settle for two-way contracts, or Exhibit 10s, with no guarantee they’d be chosen in the second round. NBA two-way contracts max out around $600,000, and straight G League deals start at around $40,500. They weren’t making any money in college, and the allure of professional life was just too great.

But now, the NIL earnings are more than enough of a fallback in case they aren’t getting drafted. To remain competitive, a power conference program would have had to spend about $3 million to $4 million in aggregate to remain competitive, a source previously told FOS. That’s an average of a healthy six figures for each of the 13 scholarship players. And the top players in the country, often those vying for these NBA roster spots, are often making seven figures. The freedom of movement provided by the transfer portal allows athletes to negotiate for more earnings, too.

“Unless [an NBA team] was willing to guarantee a spot, there’s no way that I’m playing with the kid’s future,” Alex Saratsis, Octagon’s co-managing director of basketball, tells FOS. 

This past spring, UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg was dubbed one of the best big men available in the NCAA transfer portal. He committed to Michigan, a power conference program with major resources, while also declaring for the NBA draft, where he was projected to be a late first-round pick. He ultimately withdrew from the draft at the end of May, and he will play his last year in college for the Wolverines.

Bob Donnan/Imagn Images

Lendeborg, who signed with Octagon a few weeks before deciding to stay in Ann Arbor, wasn’t the only one Saratsis represents who made that decision. Notre Dame’s Markus Burton decided not to enter the draft at all and play another year with the Fighting Irish. Greek player Neoklis Avdalas reportedly received a second-round grade after entering the draft and opted to withdraw and commit to Virginia Tech.

“Why would we [advise them to declare] when they’ve got an opportunity to make millions of dollars back in college, continue to prove their game, and take control back in their careers?” Saratsis says.

No decision is without risk, of course. A player who stays in school or transfers could lower their draft stock with an unimpressive season, Raymond says. They could also incur a season-ending, or even career-ending, injury. But the prevailing wisdom is to keep players in school for as long as possible.

That doesn’t mean that one-and-dones are going completely extinct, however. 

For a select few players, there’s a clear reason to enter the draft after just one year in the NCAA. Cooper Flagg is the No. 1 projected overall draft pick, slated to go to the Dallas Mavericks, after a sensational freshman year at Duke that ended with a heartbreaking loss to Houston in the Final Four. Flagg was likely making millions of dollars between Duke’s nebulous NIL collective and multiple top-tier brand endorsements. But in his first year in the NBA, he’ll earn about $14 million in his NBA salary alone—on top of all his existing endorsements. 

“I think there’s going to be at least five to ten players that probably just say, ‘Listen, at the end of the day, I’m going top 10. I’m going to make millions of dollars. I want to play in the NBA,’” Raymond says.

Outside the obvious lottery picks, some players just “really care about the professional lifestyle,” Raymond says. “They don’t care about the money. It’s more about, like, their dreams to play in the NBA. They want to make it happen as soon as possible.” He points to Bronny James, who wanted to play alongside his dad in Los Angeles, as an example.

But those players will continue to be outliers. This year, schools will be able to pay players directly thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement in addition to NIL. Some have raised concerns that, because there’s a cap on the revenue-sharing pool and new restrictions on NIL collective deals, players might end up making less than they did last year (though not everyone agrees that that would be the case). Either way, it will still pay to stay in college—both literally and figuratively.

Says Saratsis: “It’s almost like you’re taking control of your career.” 

Even though the Indiana Pacers kept their season alive with an impressive 108-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton knows it won’t matter if they lose the next game.

Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s victory, Haliburton explained “nothing that’s happened before matters” if the Pacers don’t win Game 7.

“We’ve got one game,” Haliburton said. “One game. Nothing that’s happened before matters. And nothing that’s going to happen after matters.”

Haliburton went on to say that being part of a Game 7 in the NBA Finals is something he’s “dreamed of” for his entire life (starts at 6:35 mark).

One thing Haliburton won’t be doing in the lead up to Game 7 is following online talking points to avoid the “poison” narratives that could bubble up.

“The next couple of days, the narratives are going to be almost poison,” said Haliburton.

Pacers vibes have been all over the place for the past week. The blown lead at home in Game 4 and tough loss in Game 5 could have signaled an end to his magical run.

Those losses were compounded by Haliburton suffering a calf injury in the first quarter of Game 5 that impacted his performance with just four points on 0-of-6 shooting from the field.

Haliburton was able to start Game 6 after going through pregame workouts. He was a game-high plus-25 in just 23 minutes, scoring 14 points and dishing out five assists.

The Pacers had six players score at least 10 points and their defense forced the Thunder to commit 21 turnovers to earn the win. They are now one win away from the franchise’s first NBA championship.

This will be the first Game 7 in the Finals since 2016 when the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors. The Pacers and Thunder will play their winner-take-all game at Paycom Center on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

The House vs. NCAA settlement, approved on June 6, 2025, has reshaped college athletics with direct athlete compensation and much stricter name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules. In his June 18 Athletic Mailbag, Stewart Mandel shared his thoughts about whether this $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap will replace or supplement existing NIL deals.

His analysis explained why the settlement’s attempt to curb NIL money is unlikely to succeed, casting doubt on its long-term impact.

College Football Experts Share Thoughts on Revenue Sharing vs NIL Collectives

Mandel noted that most schools’ collectives fall short of the $20.5 million cap, making revenue sharing the primary compensation method for many. However, for top-tier programs, things are different. Administrators, including Florida basketball coach Todd Golden and Ohio State AD Ross Bjork, claimed the NIL Go clearinghouse, operated by Deloitte, will slash outside deals.

South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers rejected tempting transfer offers, the college football star’s father says
The advent of name, image, and likeness (NIL) has significantly altered the college sports

— Landrover defender (@Landroverdefen9) June 20, 2025

Golden predicted players could earn just “10 to 20 percent” of their recent NIL hauls, while Bjork called collectives a “false market,” which will be similar to pro sports’ smaller NIL deals.

Legal and Practical Hurdles

Mandel argued that the settlement’s two-part restriction of capping school payments at $20.5 million and requiring NIL deals over $600 to be approved for “valid business purpose” and fair-market value will face legal issues.

Over the past decade, courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have deemed NCAA restrictions on athlete earnings illegal restraints of trade. Mandel pointed to Texas Tech’s $55 million in NIL commitments, confirmed by booster Cody Campbell, as evidence that schools may exceed the cap.

“Either their payroll is going down by more than 60 percent a year from now, or a judge will have issued an injunction,” he wrote.

Answering one of the reader’s questions, who asked about penalties for improper NIL deals under the College Sports Commission (CSC), led by CEO Bryan Seeley, Mandel wrote that no specifics have emerged about the “substantive” and “severe” penalties that were promised.

Another reader suggested the settlement paves the way for a salary cap, but Mandel countered that this cap, unnegotiated with players, is “legally dubious.” The CSC’s attempt to control the NIL landscape through Deloitte’s oversight assumes compliance that may never become a reality.

With schools like Texas Tech already pushing past the cap, Mandel predicted legal challenges will preserve NIL money’s prominence. The settlement may shift compensation structures, but as Mandel sees it, the lucrative NIL market is far from dead.