Tyler Hansbrough. Sam Perkins. George Lynch. Billy Cunningham. Brice Johnson. Antwan Jamison. Mitch Kupchak. Brad Daugherty. Kennedy Meeks.
All these former UNC players have one thing in common: In their college careers, each amassed over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The first eight players on that list have their jerseys hanging from the rafters of the Dean Smith Center. The ninth, Meeks, deserves to join them after powering the team to a national title.
As of this writing, there is just one way for Meeks’ jersey to be honored. As a reminder, the five ways that a Tar Heel can earn this honor are:
- ACC Player of the Year
- Consensus 1st or 2nd Team All-American
- Olympic Gold Medalist
- MVP of a National Championship-winning team, as voted by teammates and coaches
Meeks’ teammates Justin Jackson and Joel Berry won the first two awards this past year, and Meeks, while he had an excellent year, was not All-American good, so those requirements would not be available to him.