UNC Basketball: Best Tar Heel Role Players of the Decade
The best North Carolina basketball role players since 2010: Dexter Strickland
Even though his time in Chapel Hill began prior to the start of the decade, we included Dexter Strickland being that the majority of his collegiate career (three of four seasons) happened within the decade.
Strickland is a player who was able to adapt to the college game rather quickly. He earned quality minutes right away as a freshman, showing his ability to effectively play both guard positions.
The Rahway, New Jersey native was definitely not the Tar Heels best scoring option, but he showed the ability to score the basketball at critical moments. In a shortened junior season (due to a Torn ACL), Strickland led the Tar Heels with a 57% shooting percentage. Although he wasn’t a very good three-point shooter, Strickland still posted high shooting percentages, as he was able to create shots that fit his style of play.
One of Strickland’s strengths came on the defensive side of the ball. During his four years in Chapel Hill, the 6-foot-3 guard posted 25 or more steals each season, including a team-best 46 steals during his sophomore season.
Along with his defensive ability, Strickland also proved that he was one of the country’s best passers. As a senior, Strickland led the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.19), and his 143 total assists ranked fifth-best in the ACC.
It’s easy for guys like Strickland to get lost in the shuffle, considering the talent that was around him on the Tar Heels roster. However, he became a fixture for Roy Williams’ teams, and played an important role during his four-year stay.