UNC Basketball: Best Tar Heel Role Players of the Decade

The best North Carolina basketball role players since 2010: Theo Pinson

When you think about “role players,” no one fits the title better than Theo Pinson.

Although you can classify him as a role player, you could make the case that Pinson was one of (if not the) most-valuable Tar Heel during his tenure.

His early collegiate career wasn’t ideal, as he dealt with injuries. A broken fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot forced him to miss 14 games of his freshman season, and a re-occurring injury would force him to miss an additional 16 games during his junior campaign.

Although he lost some valuable time on the floor, he definitely made his presence felt while on it.

On the floor, Pinson simply was a guy who could fill up the stat sheet on any given night. Some of the things he did well don’t show in the stat line, but he definitely made his presence felt.

You need a basket? He’ll find a way to get it.
You need some good offensive flow? He’ll find the open guy for a good shot
Need a defensive stop? He’ll lock down the team’s best scoring threat.

Pinson was never considered to be much of a scorer, but he was often a steady contributor in terms of points scored. What truly made him a weapon in the Tar Heels offense was his passing ability.

As a playmaker, Pinson was able to create shots and opportunities for his teammates, which without a doubt helped improve the effectiveness of the Tar Heels offense. If you need a reminder of Pinson’s playmaking abilities, look no further than the video below (we think you all are familiar with this play!):

Pinson was also a standout defensive player during his collegiate career. He always was very active on the defensive end, and normally was tasked with guarding one of the opposing team’s top scoring threats. Over his career in Chapel Hill, the 6-foot-6 forward tallied 96 steals and 39 blocks over 122 games played.

Let’s not forget how valuable he was as a leader for these Tar Heel teams. He was often regarded as a positive presence in the locker room, and his reputation as a bit of a prankster helped keep everyone around him loose.

When thinking of Tar Heels role players from the last decade, it’s tough to argue against Theo Pinson for the top spot on the list. He may not get the credit he deserves, but Pinson was one of the top players we’ve seen in a Tar Heels uniform over the last 10 seasons.