UNC Basketball: 5 freshman that would have started for other programs
Kendall Marshall
Raise your hand if you remember Larry Drew II. Raise your hand if you want to.
Drew was the reason that freshman point guard Kendall Marshall didn’t begin the 2010 season in the Tar Heels’ starting lineup. He’s also the reason that Marshall was inserted into the Tar Heels’ starting lineup mid-way through the season.
Drew’s play throughout his North Carolina career was never stellar, but it was bad enough during his junior season to warrant being benched by Roy Williams. Drew was replaced in the starting five by Marshall, a former top-30 prospect and McDonald’s All-American.
Drew didn’t take kindly to the benching, leaving the team and the school in the middle of the night before his father informed Williams that his son would not be returning.
Marshall, who’d been played sparingly during the first half of the season, performed admirably for the Tar Heels. And the change at point guard was the biggest reason for the team’s ACC regular season championship and NCAA Tournament success.
For the season, Marshall averaged just 6.2 points and 6.2 assists per game; both were better than that of Drew, though. Also better was Marshall’s 2.48 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Despite the seemingly low numbers, it was Marshall’s ability to run the North Carolina offense with confidence and fluidity for the remainder of the 2010-11 season that was so invaluable.
And even though the Tar Heels would eventually fall to Kentucky in the Elite 8, Marshall’s impact on the team was obvious.
The following season, Marshall put together a historically good performance, leading the nation with 351 assists. He was subsequently named the Bob Cousy Award recipient as the nation’s top point guard.
To this day, it’s Marshall’s season-ending injury against Creighton in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament that makes North Carolina fans cringe the most. There are many, including ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, who believe it was a healthy Tar Heels team that would have challenged Kentucky for the 2012 national title.