Dean Smith’s influence on the game of basketball and some of its greatest players was undeniable.
Smith was coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1961-1997 where he led the school to 13 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships, 11 Final Fours and two national titles in 1982 and 1993. He died over the weekend at the age of 83.
Dozens of players Smith coached went on to play in the NBA, so with that in mind here are 10 of the best players to play under Smith.
10. Vince Carter 1995-1998
While his 12.3 PPG and 4.5 RPG don’t jump off the page, Carter showed flashes of the dynamic NBA player he’d become and was selected fifth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft. Carter is the last active NBA player that Smith coached.
9. Jerry Stackhouse 1993-1995
In his second of only two seasons spent at North Carolina, Stackhouse led his team with 19.2 points per game and was named a First Team All-American and went third overall in the 1995 draft.
8. Mike O’Koren 1976-1980
The small forward had an average NBA career with the New Jersey Nets, but he shone at North Carolina. He averaged 15.1 PPG and seven rebounds per game in four seasons there, finishing his college career as the only player in school history with more than 1,500 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists.
7. Rasheed Wallace 1993-1995
The centre/power forward spent two seasons under Smith and his brief college career culminated with a Final Four appearance in 1995 where he averaged 16.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG and was a Second Team All-American before being drafted fourth overall by the Washington Bullets.
6. Kenny Smith 1983-1987
Before his 10-year NBA career and a successful transition into basketball broadcasting, Smith spent four seasons at North Carolina. Smith averaged 12.9 PPG and six RPG and helped his team to three conference titles.
5. Antawn Jamison 1995-1998
Jamison was a standout in his three seasons, falling just shy of averaging a double-double (19 PPG and 9.9 RPG). He, along with Vince Carter, led the Tar Heels to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 1997 and 1998. The two-time All-American set a school record in ’97-98 for most field goals made (316) in a single season that holds up to this day. He won the Naismith Award that year as well.
Jamison released the following statement on Smith’s passing:
“Coach Smith was a coach, mentor and friend. He had a huge impact on my career but had an even bigger impact on my life. I can vouch for all of the things that everyone else has said about him impacting their lives for the best. He was more like a father to me than a coach. In fact, it feels like I’m losing a father. I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for Coach Smith. My heart goes out to his family. It’s definitely a sad day for my family and the Tar Heel nation.”
4. Phil Ford 1974-1978
The Tar Heels finished first in their conference in the final three years of Ford’s tenure at North Carolina. A terrific scorer and passer, Ford holds the school record for most point-assist double-doubles with 15 – nine of those came during the 1975-76 season. The point guard finished his college career as the top scorer in UNC history (2,290 points) until Tyler Hansbrough broke his record in 2008.
3. Sam Perkins 1980-1984
Perkins was a rebounding machine in his four seasons and it resulted in a Second Team All-American nod in 1982, plus back-to-back First Team All-American honours in 1983 and 1984.
2. James Worthy 1979-1982
Worthy spent three seasons with the Tar Heels, and showed considerable improvement every year under Smith. In Worthy’s sophomore season at UNFC, the Tar Heels made the championship game but lost to Bobby Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers. A year later, ‘Big Game’ James averaged 15.6 points per game and helped his school to its first national championship since 1957. He was a First Team All-American and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1982 after scoring 28 points in the championship game, which is a school record.
1. Michael Jordan 1981-1982
There should be no surprise as to who tops this list. After hitting the national title-winning shot in 1982 as a freshman, Jordan set a sophomore record by scoring 721 points in his second season and won the Naismith Award as the best collegiate player. And of course, he went on to win six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan said in a statement Sunday that Smith was “more than a coach — he was a mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it.”
If it weren’t for Smith, Jordan might never have become the great player we all know.