UNC Basketball: 10 most underappreciated Tar Heels of all-time

UNC basketball underappreciated Tar Heel No. 5: Sam Perkins (1980-1984)

You may be thinking: How is someone with the resume that Sam Perkins has on this list?!

The answer is quite simple: take a look at the rosters he was on in Chapel Hill.

It’s not often that a college basketball roster features a legendary trio like North Carolina had with Perkins, Michael Jordan, and James Worthy. Of course, a ton of the spotlight focuses on Jordan, who went on to have an illustrious NBA career and is considered by many to be the “GOAT” of the sport, while Worthy isn’t far behind with the Hall of Fame career he put together.

Although both players are well-deserving of the recognition, so is Perkins, who was just as important to the UNC basketball program’s success over his tenure.

Perkins was a three-time Consensus All-American and three-time All-ACC selection among various other honors. For most programs, the resume he established would rank among the top (if not at the top) of the best players to ever suit up for that respective university.

However, at the University of North Carolina, the program is filled with legendary players who have made their way through Chapel Hill, as Perkins often gets overshadowed due to the fact that he was surrounded by some legendary players.