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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) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 15: Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 77-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)The best North Carolina basketball role players since 2010: Brandon Robinson /

The best North Carolina basketball role players since 2010: Honorable Mention

Of course, every ranking will have players that fall just short of being included. Let’s quickly look at some guys who we’ve given “Honorable Mention” honors too:

In his three seasons as a Tar Heel, Woods served as a backup point guard. He would be called upon to spell the starters and provide quality minutes while operating the Tar Heels offense.

Woods decided to transfer, and sat out the 2019-2020 season. With the handful of injuries that the Tar Heels dealt with during the season, you wonder what Woods’ role would’ve been if he had stayed for his senior season.

As a highly-touted recruit, it was anticipated that Little’s tenure in Chapel Hill would be brief. In his only season as a Tar Heel, Little played a reserve role, averaging just under 10 points per game.

With the likes of Luke Maye, Cameron Johnson and Kenny Williams ahead of him on the depth chart, there wasn’t an opportunity for the talented forward in the starting rotation. Little may not have necessarily fit with this Tar Heels team, but his athleticism and highlight play ability were definitely on display during his time on campus.

Black is the only current player featured on this list, and the next few seasons will really dictate whether or not he will move up the ranks on this list.

When watching Black, you can make the comparison to a guy like Theo Pinson. He’s a big, athletic guard who doesn’t necessarily shoot the ball well but has great playmaking and defensive abilities.

His development will be crucial for the success of the Tar Heels. No one expects him to be Theo Pinson, but if he can channel some of that same playmaking abilities, he will be a crucial part of the team’s success over the next few years.

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