Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Top 5 UNC small forwards of all time

By Horran Cameron

Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels fans hold up their hands during the first half against against the Villanova Wildcats in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men
Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels fans hold up their hands during the first half against against the Villanova Wildcats in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men /
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#1 – Lennie Rosenbluth, UNC (1954-57)

Lennie Rosenbluth accomplished the following feats while at North Carolina:

  • the highest career scoring average at UNC all-time (26.9)
  • holds record for most points scored in a season (895)
  • ranks second in most consecutive career 20-point games (63)
  • ranks first in most consecutive 20-point games (20 in 1956-57)
  • tied for second in most consecutive 20-point games (13 in 1955-56)
  • third in most consecutive 30-point games (three in 1956-57; twice)
  • holds record for most 40-point games (47, 45, 45, 45, 40)
  • holds record for most consecutive 40-point games (40 against Duke in 1957; 45 against Clemson in 1957)
  • most points scored in regular season game (45 at Clemson in 1956)
  • most points scored in ACC Tournament career (196 points in six games)
  • most points scored in ACC Tournament game (45 against Clemson in 1957; ACC Record)
  • tied for most points scored in NCAA Tournament game (39 against Canisius in 1957)
  • ranks fourth all-time in points scored (2,045 points)
  • one of seven UNC players to average a double-double career (26.9 points and 10.4 rebounds)
  • one of 16 UNC players to average a double-double in a single season (25.5 points and 11.7 rebounds in 1954-55, 26.7 points and 11.5 rebounds in 1955-56)
  • second-most field goals made in a season (305)
  • most field goals made in an ACC Tournament game (19 against Clemson in 1957; ACC Record)
  • second-most field goals made in a single game (20 against Furman in 1956)
  • ranks 10th in most field goals made in career (721)
  • ranks fourth in most field goals attempted in career (1,571)
  • ranks first in most field goals attempted in single season (631).

Rosenbluth led North Carolina to a perfect 32-0 record during the 1956-57 season. They defeated the Kansas Jayhawks (led by Wilt Chamberlain) in the 1957 NCAA National Championship. He was named the 1957 Helms Foundation Collegiate Player of the Year and three-time All-ACC selection for his UNC career. He was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection.

Likewise, Rosenbluth was a consensus selection to the first-team All-American squad.

Until Duke’s Christian Laettner, Rosenbluth was the only college basketball player to be named the National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP and NCAA Regional MVP in the same season.

In 2002, Rosenbluth was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team consisting of the 50 best basketball players ever in the ACC conference.

He is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Many people consider Rosenbluth to be one of the 100 greatest college basketball players of all-time.

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