Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Best Tar Heel Role Players of the Decade

By Nick Delahanty

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: TV personality Jim Nantz speaks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels and his team after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: TV personality Jim Nantz speaks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels and his team after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 12
Next
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a shot against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a shot against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The best North Carolina basketball role players since 2010: Kenny Williams

We almost didn’t see Kenny Williams in a Tar Heels uniform. Luckily for the Tar Heels, Williams landed on campus and became a quality four-year player.

Williams originally committed to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to play for head coach Shake Smart. However, Smart left the school and went on to coach at the University of Texas, which left Williams’ commitment to VCU in question.

The Midlothian, VA native decided to re-open his recruitment, and eventually chose to attend the University of North Carolina. That decision ended up working out nicely for the Tar Heels.

After playing a very small role during his freshman season, Williams earned a starting role in his sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-4 guard started 22 of the 26 games he appeared in, averaging 6.8 points per game. Unfortunately, Williams got injured and missed the remainder of the season, including the team’s national championship run. If it wasn’t for the injury bug, Williams most certainly would have been a major factor in the team’s quest for the title.

Returning from his injury, Williams had his best collegiate season as a junior. His 11.4 points per game were not only a career-high, but ranked as fourth-highest on the Tar Heels squad. He also posted a 40.2% three-point field goal percentage, which was the second-best on the team.

After a standout junior season, Williams was named as a team captain for his senior season. He was a main contributor on Roy Williams’ squad that went 29-7 and made it to Midwest Regional Semifinals.

Williams was never the “lead guy,” but embraced the role that he was put into. If the Tar Heels needed a big bucket or a huge defensive stop, Williams was always up for the challenge. If you look back at his career in Chapel Hill, some of Williams biggest plays came when the game was on the line.

Home/North Carolina Tar Heels