Which College Basketball Champion Had The Most NBA Talent?

Posted Jun 15, 2022
When legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith won his first of two national championships, in 1982, his starting lineup included three players who went on to become top-four picks in the NBA draft: James Worthy, Michael Jordan, and Sam Perkins. Only one other NCAA champion has produced a trio of players who went on to that sort of NBA pedigree. (Chapelboro.com)

Related: Basketball, Tar Heels in the NBA

Video: IC Podcast - Building Process Continues for UNC Basketball
Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss the latest on Michael Malone's process of rebuilding UNC's basketball program, news out of the Smith...
Tue Apr 14, 2026

UNC basketball coach Michael Malone carries on Tar Heels' connection to New York
Steve Newmark, who spearheaded UNC’s coaching search, chatted with Michael Malone for about an hour during their initial conversation. "He is a basketball encyclopedia. He...
Tue Apr 14, 2026

Video: IC Podcast - A Monday for the Ages in Carolina Basketball
Sherrell McMillan, Spencer Haskell, and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss the importance of transfer commit Neoklis Avdalas, the return of Jarin Stevenson, the hiring...
Tue Apr 14, 2026

Carolina Insider Podcast: Basketball Updates, Spring Football, Youssef Shamel, Jason Kosmicki
Transfer portal season means uncertainty for UNC Basketball (4:25). Spring football is underway as the Tar Heels look for big improvement (15:19). Denver Nuggets play-by-play...
Tue Apr 14, 2026