Kenny Smith - Basketball-Reference.com Theyve created something bigger than basketball, where people dont always watch the game, they watch the show. Kenny Lofton is a 17-year major leaguer whose time on the Hall of Fame ballot lasted only one year. What's more, much of what happens on defense isn't specifically measured anywhere. "If I put Kevin McHale or Bill Walton on him, he just yawns and says 'Oh, well, another little guy on me.'". Read more: Rob Thomson says opposing managers calls CBP "four hours of hell" >> Brian Kenny also praised Chase Utley at the end of this video, who will find his name on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2024. Was Kenny Smith a Good NBA Player? - Sportscasting ", "He always seems to know where that crack in the wall is," former Celtics coach K.C. Kenny Smith was born in Queens, New York. In a much slower-paced era, Hill was sort of the precursor to LeBron; a point forward who could finish above the rim, score from the mid-range, find open teammates and defend multiple positions. Afirst look at the list of eligible nominees was provided byNBA Today on ESPN,hosted by Malika Andrews, Richard Jefferson, Chiney Ogwumike andZach Lowe. The HOF applies to media members as well who've made a significant contribution to basketball. Nationality: United States. And perhaps most importantly, Jokic is already top 40 in a telling cumulative stat (think total points, as opposed to points per game), as hehas 1.199 career MVP shares, according to Basketball Reference. Height: 6-3. Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Alan Jackson and - Peoplemag 306, is indeed grateful to be among your ranks tonight, and I thank you for welcoming me into . Kenny Smith is currently an analyst for TNTs Inside the NBA. They have two children together. All rights reserved. They should just induct the whole Inside the NBA cast as a separate thing in the hall of fame. Wrestling Champions 1965-66. Stephen A. Smith isn't a fan of Nav Bhatia's Hall of Fame induction. Smith graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1987 with a degree in Industrial Relations. 1965 Gasol was a critical component of Kobe Bryant's last two title runs. Dantley may not have had the same kind of wide-ranging statistical contributions as some of those who made the top 75, but the majority of them can't match Dantley's resume as a scorer. It's not that Jerry Smith deserves . Smith's career three-point percentage of .399 42nd in NBA history through 2010. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Baseball Champions 1962. Ginobili was sort of the Will to Duncan and Gregg Popovich's Carlton and Philip Banks. Press J to jump to the feed. His peak, though, particularly on offense, can go toe-to-toe with just about any other. [33], While on the Scoop B Radio Podcast in 2017, Smith told Brandon Scoop B Robinson that the 1994 Houston Rockets would have beaten Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had they faced each other in the NBA Finals. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Friday's 10-game slate. . "Walt andNate Thurmondwere much like the centers of today, where they could shoot the outside shot and take the ball to the basket. If instead of the mean, you look at the median, the . Prior to the rise of the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s, Bob Lanier was a bruising big man who dominated in the Motor City. [1] Smith played sparingly for the playoff-bound Pistons and the Magic, but got the last meaningful playing time of his career with the Nuggets, a team that won only 21 games that season. Brian Kenny makes his Hall of Fame case for Jimmy Rollins as results Read more here. He was a model of consistency during the '70s, spending three years in Cleveland before joining the New York Yankees and posting a 114 OPS+ while averaging 23 home runs, 76 RBI and 4.0 WAR in 140 games over the course of his 11 years in pinstripes. Honorable Mentions: Kevin Brown, David Cone, Jim Kaat, Mickey Lolich, Billy Pierce, Rick Reuschel, Dave Stieb, Luis Tiant, Currently on Ballot: Mark Buehrle, Roger Clemens, Tim Hudson, Andy Pettitte, Curt Schilling. A complete list of eligible candidates can be found below. The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame is a sports hall of fame for the U.S. state of Kentucky established in 1963. No one matches or exceeds Jokic's playoff marks in all of the above (25.9, 11.3, 6.4 and 1.0). We present them here for purely educational purposes. Smith is also the founder of the Jet Academy, the virtual live basketball camp for children of all ages. He was a World Series winner in 1977 and 1978, and his 68.0 career WAR ranks 10th all-time among third basemen. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA. [41] They married on September 8, 2006. As the NBA on TNT crew sent the production to a commercial break right after the final name (Russell Westbrook) was revealed, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith yelled, "Shout out to Chris Mullin!". He was more than an average point guard, even if he was never a superstar like his costars. And throughout his career, Mutombo was one of the most impactful presences in the game, despite averaging just 9.8 points. KENNY "BANG BANG" BOGNER PEE WEE BONITO DAVE BONTEMPO MIKE BORAO JOE BORRELL JOHNNY BOS . [1] He finished in the NBA top ten in three-point percentage three times (199293, 199394, 199495), and top ten in free throw percentage twice (199293 and 199394). [30] Smith works with Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal on Inside the NBA, a winner of the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Studio Show. Weight: 238. the way he overhyped Blake Griffin's over-the-hood dunk in the slam dunk contest, Kenny won't make it to HOF. His voting support jumped from 23.2 to 39.8 percent in his final year on the ballot, and it's fair to wonder if he might have ultimately made the cut under the previous 15-year limits rather than the new 10-year cutoff. He put together seven straight seasons with at least 30 home runs while playing with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves, and the trade that brought him to Atlanta at the 1993 deadline helped bolster a team on the rise. The Hall of Fame. After two and a half seasons, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, but a half year later, in 1990, he ended up in Houston. From 1990-1999 Lofton produced a bWAR of 45.8, 10th best in the majors. [1] Through 2016 Smith held the Denver Nuggets franchise record for career three-point percentage (.425), and ranked among the all-time leaders in several categories for the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets. But its more than basketball coverage. ABC Studios. Had he played longer, his case obviously would've been stronger. They won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season conference championships in 1984 and 1987, and tied for first in 1985. Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Gregg Popovich headline the class. Kenny Smith, Co-Executive Producer. [24][25], The Rockets released Smith after the 199596 season, and he signed with the Detroit Pistons. Twitter: Or write about sports? [16] Smith finished 17th in voting for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, just ahead of teammate Hakeem Olajuwon. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The Class of 2023 will be officially enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 12. Growing up in public housing in Houston, he was exposed to R&B, pop, and jazz in addition to country. At No. Honorable Mentions: Albert Belle, Lance Berkman, Johnny Damon, Jim Edmonds, Dwight Evans, Frank Howard, Fred Lynn, Minnie Minoso, Dale Murphy, Tony Oliva, Reggie Smith, Currently on Ballot: Bobby Abreu, Barry Bonds, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, Sammy Sosa. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. I love how he balances out Chuck's crazy claims with intelligent analysis. Teammates Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez are already enshrined, and Concepcion's case is one worth further consideration from the Veterans Committee. [12][13], Smith was selected as a 6'3" 170 lb point guard by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth pick of the 1987 NBA draft. Will Kenny Smith make the HoF? : r/nba - reddit He won American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1970 and made seven All-Star appearances over 10 full seasons in the majors, taking home the AL MVP Award in 1976 when he hit .302/.337/.432 with 17 home runs and 105 RBI for a World Series-bound Yankees team. As a basketball fan, youll probably recognize the names Shaq or Barkley before youll recognize Smith. Smith girls basketball hosts Triton in the NCHSAA second round of the playoffs on Thursday, Feb . Smith then went on to play under another prominent head coach, Dean Smith, at the University of Carolina, who was referred to by the Basketball Hall of Fame as a' coaching legend.' Kenny Smith's professional basketball career began after graduating in 1987 when he was chosen as a sixth selection by the Sacramento Kings during the NBA . We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Theres no denying the former were superstar players. During that closing decade, Carter's squadswere plus-1.2 points per 100 possessions when he played and minus-2.7 when he didn't. Smith attended Archbishop Molloy High School, where he was coached by Jack Curran, the high school coach with the most wins in New York City and New York State history. While he never won a championship, he is in the Hall of Fame, and also makes more than Smith, although only $40 million total. Today, he has a production company as well. He's 69th in career box plus/minus (BPM is a "basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball players contribution to the team when that player is on the court," according to Basketball Reference), and that includes over a decade of post-peak years to pull that mark down. A Career Before Country Music. He is an NCAA All-Star and an inductee to the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. His off-the-cuff demeanor was well-received by fans, and the addition of Barkley in 2000 and ONeal in 2011 have only added value. Outstanding Comedy Series - 2017. Shaqs career averages were 23.7 points, 2.5 assists, and 10.9 rebounds that puts him behind Smith with assists. In the 198889 season Smith was fifth in the league in minutes played, seventh in minutes per game, and tenth in total assists. (2:45). #22HoopClass, : https://t.co/QCITOO5LpK pic.twitter.com/ZdklJZa2uR, Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 21, 2021. [2], Smith was born in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City[a] and later grew up in Queens,[3] spending time in the LeFrak City neighborhood. The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. . No. He made eight All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams. Luke Kuechly (2023) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation [32], During the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend, Smith was a member of the Texas team that won the Shooting Stars Competition. One of the best big men of his era, Hall of Famer Walt Bellamy is top 50 in NBA history in career points, rebounds, field goals, free throws, minutes and win shares. Kenny Chesney: First . Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame announces five-person class for 2023 - yahoo.com When was Kenny Smith born? [17], Head Coach Don Chaney was fired after posting a record of only 2626 in the 199192 season. [34], On the August 26, 2020 edition of Inside the NBA, Smith left the set as a show of solidarity with the six teams that elected to boycott the day's games in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Rockets won the game 120118, and went on to sweep the Magic in four games. The Pittsburgh Steelers had the unenviable task of replacing a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, who retired after the 2021 season. View Bio. He was named an All-Star in seven of those eight campaigns. In 199091 Smith averaged 17.7 points per game while leading the Rockets in assists per game (7.1) and free throw percentage (.844). High-profile candidates Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling will each have one more try before they reach the 10-year limit and fall off the ballot, at which time they would join a long list of former stars who have been passed over for the sport's ultimate honor. Kenny Smith | New York Post While it may have started that way, it became what it is today after Smith joined the show, according to the New York Times. Kenny Smith Net Worth, Early Life, Career - usupdates.com Dean Smith trending after UNC basketball's Kenny Smith shares story The southpaw broke into the league with the Cincinnati Reds in 1984 at age 23, and he was still pitching in 2005 for the Houston Astros at age 44. Does anyone know what's going on with Kenny Smith? : r/nba Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame announces Class of 2023 He finished with 2,369 hits, a 117 OPS+ and a 75.1 career WAR total that ranks sixth all-time among second basemen, behind five Hall of Famers and ahead of 14 others who currently reside in Cooperstown. Here, he shined as he was paired with Hakeem Olajuwon. Kenny Smith is 6-3 (190 cm) tall. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. The NFL's 2023 Hall of Fame Game will feature the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, the Hall announced Tuesday. There were basically two notable phases of Mullin's career. For the latest news and updates, follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram. Obviously his playing career alone won't help him . . For example, the deterrence that a rim protector like Dikembe Mutombo generates by merely being on the floor doesn't show up in the box score (at least not explicitly). His peak is every bit as impressive, though. He was an excellent cook who hosted gourmet wild game cookouts during the shoots. Kenny Smith was put to the sword yet again by Charles Barkley - this time for his choice of shoes. The Class of 2023 is "loaded" with star power as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalists were announced Friday as part of NBA All-Star weekend. Bang! Breen among media members honored by Hall of Fame Scott Rolen belongs in the Hall of Fame, and with another nice bump of support in 2021, he appears to be well on his way to getting there before his time on the ballot comes to an end. In 1987, he was drafted in what was considered a weak class as the 6th pick by the Sacramento Kings. The full list of nominees from the North American and women's committees were unveiled in December. Appropriately nicknamed Kenny Hustle, Williams . This thread is archived. Ginobili introduced some necessary chaos into the mix. Basketball-Reference has his Hall of Fame probability at 38.5 percent.. Marques Johnson, SF Kenny Smith was drafted by Sacramento Kings, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1987 NBA Draft. [20][21], Smith had been gradually losing playing time to Sam Cassell,[22] but he continued to be the Rockets' starting point guard through the 199596 season. [10][11], During his career at North Carolina, Smith averaged 12.9 points and 6.0 assists per game, while shooting .512 from the field, and .823 from the free throw line. Jerry Smith held an NFL scoring record for 27 years. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. His dunk contest commentary is legendary. Drafted: 1st round (4th overall) in 1981 by Seattle . Kenny Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey Known as the "Forgotten Four," Marion Motley, Woody Strode, Kenny Washington and Bill Willis reintegrated pro football in 1946, and have now been selected to share the Pro Football Hall of Fame's . Enshrinement weekend will begin at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Friday, Aug. 11, with the tip-off celebration and awards gala, inclusive of the Class of 2023 jacket and ring presentation and the annual Hall of Fame Awards. They may need to have another catch-up year. 'Black-ish' Could Run on . He won't because it isn't nearly enough body of work unless he does it for maybe another 15 years and becomes synonymous with his NBA commentary beyond occasional comedic relief. That means no players who still appear on the ballot like Bonds and Clemens and no players who have yet to appear on the ballot like Adrian Beltre and Alex Rodriguez since they have not yet been officially rejected by the voters. It might be easier to make a case for Omar Vizquel being the best shortstop not currently in the Hall of Fame than it is to make a case that he's deserving of enshrinement. [40], After divorcing his first wife, Smith met English model Gwendolyn Osborne in 2004 at a charity event. Inside the NBA is entering its 34th season and has its own spot in both the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He played only nine games with the Pistons before he was waived and signed by the Orlando Magic, who released Smith after only six games. Today, six players were inducted in the Hall of Fame. [36], Kenny Smith played Leon Rich in the movie Hustle (2022), starring Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangmez. Four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili is among the first-time candidates for Hall of Fame induction. Breen the longtime voice of the New York Knicks as well as the NBA on ESPN and ABC was one of the honorees Friday night by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of the Curt . A total of 60 players were selected from different divisions within the region to participate in three . He's 20th in career rebounds, second in career blocks and 44th in career games. us, High School: Is Kenny Smith in the Hockey Hall of Fame? How much did Kenny Smith weigh when playing? The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: NAISMITH BASKETBALL Country Music Hall of Fame inducts Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and A post shared by thejetontnt (@kennysmith) on Feb 16, 2020 at 1:40pm PST. There are statistical, cultural and other arguments for dozens whose names weren't called. He also drew comparisons to Michael Jordan. The Best MLB Player at Every Position Rejected by Hall of Fame "He was probably more difficult to guard (than the traditional post-up centers)," former teammateJim Washington told NBA.com's Kevin Chouinard. As previously mentioned, Mutombo is tied with Ben Wallace for the most Defensive Player of the Year nods in NBA history with four. 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony Highlights. "He never seemed to step onto the court with a fully fleshed-out plan, or to have decided on a movewhether to shoot, to dribble, or to zing some oddball pass, fishy with Englishuntil he was already partway through the motion that made it possible.". These 30 Artists Aren't Already in the Country Music Hall of Fame Cleveland great Kenny Lofton only last one year on the Hall of Fame ballot before falling off, but here is why he deserves another shot at Cooperstown. Kenny Lofton is still on the outside looking in. He also works as an analyst for CBS/Turner during the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. He also makes far more than Smith could ever dream of at least if you count up his net worth $400 million compared to $20 million. July 20, 1986", "Sacramento Fans Have No Problem With Dumping Bill Russell", "1990-91 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats", "Seattle SuperSonics at Houston Rockets Box Score, May 20, 1993", "Smith Lifts Rockets Into Game 7: NBA playoffs: Guard scores 30 points as Houston pulls away from Seattle in third quarter for a 103-90 victory", "The 60 Greatest Playoff Moments: Honorable Mention", "Houston Rockets at Orlando Magic Box Score, June 7, 1995", "SAM I AM WITH TEAMMATES, FOES AND REFS, HOUSTON ROCKET POINT GUARD SAM CASSELL LIKES TO TALK THE TALK-- AND HE'S HAPPY TO BACK IT UP COME CRUNCH TIME, "History in Hindsight: The Houston Rockets, The Seattle SuperSonics, and Hakeem Olajuwon's greatest foe", "Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Box Score, May 2, 1996", "Throwback Thursday: Magic Johnson Makes A Comeback In 1996", "Chemistry, characters carry NBA show above pack", "Kenny Smith Wasn't a Star. Join our linker program. After averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 assists per game with the Sacramento Kings, Smith was named a member of the NBA All-Rookie team in 1988. . In 57 playoff games during the same period, Smith had nearly identical averages of 11.6 points and 4.3 assists, shooting .456 from three-point range. He did something most athletes cant do he made a name for himself with a second act. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. A distinguished group of attorneys who have consistently earned high rankings from their peers in the annual Legal Elite voting. Lofton produced six seasons with a bWAR of 5.0 or more, including his 1994 season when he led the American League with a . inQueens,New York Ahead, we set out to identify the best player at each position who has been rejected by the Baseball Hall of Fame voting system. Smith helped to force a game seven against Seattle by scoring 30 points, shooting 46 from three-point range, in a Game 6 victory for Houston. Prior to joining Crystal, Kenny held roles . Born: Mar 8, 1965 (57 years old) Birthplace/Hometown: Queens, New York. His underrated career spanned three decades. Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and the late "Cowboy" Jack Clement-- three men whose influence still ripples across the surface of modern music -- are now members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.. Does that make Kenny better than Chuck? Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame Kenny Smith. His longevity made him one of just 16 pitchers to pitch in 1,000 career games, and his 1,119 appearances actually rank third behind Jesse Orosco (1,252) and Mike Stanton (1,178). George Foreman is a perfect example of this he earned more money from his grill than he did as a boxer. The live broadcast, originally scheduled to lead into a double-header, was turned into a panel discussion of racial injustice in America after the announcement of the games' postponements. [11], Smith represented the United States in the 1986 FIBA World championship, on a team that included David Robinson, Muggsy Bogues and Steve Kerr. Others dont become famous until after they retire, and not always for the thing they got their start in. They were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Pau Gasol's game was never as flashy as those of some of the legends who were named to the top 75. 982 Cheyney University NCAA Final Four Team (team)*, Kentucky Wesleyan 1966, 1968, 1969 (Team), North Catholic High School Junior Varsity (Philadelphia, PA) (team), 2022: Sonny Boswell, Swin Cash, Larry Costello, Hugh Evans, Manu Ginobili, Tim Hardaway, Del Harris, Lou Hudson, Bob Huggins, Inman Jackson, George Karl, Radivoj Korac, Albert Pullins, Theresa Shank-Grentz, Marianne Stanley, Lindsay Whalen, 2021: Val Ackerman, Rick Adelman, Chris Bosh, Bob Dandridge, Lowell Fitzsimmons, Howard Garfinkel, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson, Clarence Jenkins, Toni Kukoc, Pearl Moore, Paul Pierce, Bill Russell, Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Jay Wright, 2020: Patrick Baumann, Kobe Bryant, Tamika Catchings, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens, Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, 2019: Al Attles, Carl Braun, Charles "Chuck" Cooper, Vlade Divac, Bill Fitch, Bobby Jones, Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma, Tennessee A&I teams from 1957 to 1959, Wayland Baptist University teams of 1982-84, Teresa Weatherspoon, Paul Westphal, 2018: Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Tina Thompson, Dino Radja, Charlie Scott, Ora Mae Washington, Rod Thorn, Rick Welts, Katie Smith, 2017: Robert Hughes, Tracy McGrady, Bill Self, Rebecca Lobo, Muffet McGraw, Mannie Jackson, Tom Jernstedt, Jerry Krause, Zack Clayton, Nick Galis, George McGinnis, 2016: Zelmo Beaty, Darell Garretson, Allen Iverson, Tom Izzo, John McClendon, Yao Ming, Shaquille O'Neal, Cumberland Posey, Jerry Reinsdorf, Sheryl Swoopes, Dirk vs. the Heat's Big 3: Relive the drama of the 2011 NBA Finals (2:45), Basketball Hall of Fame: Class of 2023 finalists, schedule and more, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. For his entire career, the Hall of Famer made seven All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. Kenny Smith was born in Queens, New York. Baseball Champions 1965. Loyola Blakefield | Hall of Fame Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. They did use a first-round pick in the 2022 . New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame 52nd Annual Induction & Award Ceremonies - Photos taken by Samad Haq & James Brandon . Honorable Mentions: Sparky Lyle, Robb Nen, Dan Quisenberry. It is Texas Southern Universitys distinct pleasure to have a living basketball legend as our guest speaker. Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame - Wikipedia Country Music Hall of Fame Inducts 2020 Class - Billboard For the most part, Hall of Fame voters have done a solid job recognizing the best relievers in the history of the game, assuming Billy Wagner eventually punches his ticket. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announces eligible candidates In fact, he could be considered the model for such a transformation. [11] Smith helped North Carolina to a record of 11522 from the 198384 to 198687 seasons, including two Elite Eight appearances (1985 and 1987) and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1986. In the same stretch, he won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards (only Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo have more) and had a plus-8.6 net-rating swing (the Orlando Magic were plus-8.4 points per 100 possessions with Howard on the floor and minus-0.2 with him off). How old is Kenny Smith? Taking a look at the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's historic season for the Nuggets. Take a look back at every induction class for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels, earning consensus first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1987.