UNC Basketball: Ranking the 10 recruiting classes of the decade

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CHAPEL HILL, NC- APRIL 4: Theo Pinson of the North Carolina Tar Heels sneaks up to steal the microphone from teammate Joel Berry II during their welcome-home reception for the NCAA men’s basketball team on April 4, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-65 yesterday to win the national championship. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 2014 Class

Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson, and Joel Berry

How can this not be the best class in the past decade for UNC hoops? The 2014 class will go down as one of the most decorated classes in UNC history and one of the most loved classes as well.

It was the trio of Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson, and Joel Berry that was the backbone of the ‘Redeem Team’ in 2017 en route to the National Championship.

Again, none of the three need an introduction but for Joel Berry, he goes down as one of the best guards in Carolina history.

Moving into the starting lineup halfway through his sophomore season, playing alongside Marcus Paige, Berry was the energizer that helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2016 Title game. After the disappointing and heartbreaking loss, Berry was not satisfied and led Carolina to the National Title win in 2017 as he was named the MOP of the Final Four, becoming the first player since Bill Walton to score 20+ coins in back-to-back championship games, also being named a Second-Team All-American.

Next is Theo Pinson. The jokester of the team and beloved member of the Tar Heels, Pinson was the Swiss army knife that did just about everything on the floor. Definitely one of the best passers in recent history, Pinson played and guarded all five positions and was an x-factor for the Tar Heels whenever he was on the floor. Hampered by injuries in his sophomore and junior years, he always found a way to make the team better.

Both Berry and Pinson stayed all four years while the third member of the class, Justin Jackson, left for the NBA following a record-breaking junior season.

Jackson, the 2017 ACC Player of the Year and First-Team All-American, had one of the best shooting seasons in college basketball as he broke the single-season UNC three-point record with 105 makes on the year. After two shaky seasons from deep to start his career, his junior season will go down as one of the best in Carolina History in the decade.

dark. Next. UNC Commit Impresses At City Of Palms Tournament

This trio went to two National Championship games, winning one, and also appeared in a Sweet 16 game as well.

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