UNC Basketball: Tar Heels Most Likely to Make All-ACC Team
North Carolina is projected to have an elite team next season, but a few key players will try to stand out from the pack.
A year after the media named zero Tar Heels as first- or second-team All-ACC, the squad now has a number of players who can accomplish this feat during the 2015-16 season. The question is which ones are the most likely to put up the statistics necessary to earn these honors.
Some situations will need major improvements, while others will simply require bigger roles. In either case, here is a look at each player's path and the numbers he would require to earn All-Conference honors in one of the toughest leagues in the nation.
Note: Stat projections are best-case scenario for each player, not expected predictions as a team.
6. Theo Pinson
1 of 6
One of the easiest ways to replace J.P. Tokoto in the starting lineup is to find the person who most resembles his style of play. On this roster that would be rising sophomore Theo Pinson.
Injuries limited Pinson to just 24 games last season, but he showed plenty of potential when he was on the floor. He wasn't an efficient scorer, but he used his athleticism to be a quality defender and rebounder.
Even if the forward doesn't improve as an outside shooter, the 6'6" player can get points by slashing into the lane and finishing around the rim. Adding this to his ability to fill up the stat sheet—he also ranked third on the team in assist rate behind Marcus Paige and Tokoto, per KenPom.com—he could be one of the more versatile players in the league.
It would probably take some big-time scoring to get onto the All-ACC team, but even a variety of 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals per game could give him a chance.
5. Joel Berry II
2 of 6
If head coach Roy Williams decides to go small with his lineup, pushing Marcus Paige to the No. 2, Joel Berry would be the best option to start at point guard. Nate Britt had some big games last season, but Berry represents a lot more upside with his quickness and ability to create for others.
Obviously, it would take a serious leap to go from an average of 4.2 points per game to an All-ACC season. However, Berry wouldn't need to play outside of himself to reach this status.
Assuming he can earn the starting job, the former McDonald's All-American point guard can efficiently run the offense and spread the ball around to the rest of the stars on the roster. Considering the pace this team likes to play, there will be enough possessions to get a high number of assists.
Putting up averages of around 12 points and seven assists per game is certainly possible and could be enough to earn All-Conference status.
4. Kennedy Meeks
3 of 6
This is where we start getting into the more realistic possibilities to earn a spot on the All-ACC teams.
Kennedy Meeks is coming off a good sophomore season where he averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He entered the year in better shape and became a vacuum on the boards, controlling the glass on both ends of the court.
The problem with taking the next step toward being elite will simply be a matter of opportunity. Not only will Meeks have to compete with opponents for rebounds, but he will also be competing with Brice Johnson and other teammates for stats.
Meanwhile, the fast-paced attack will keep him from getting more than about 25 minutes per game, especially with quality reserves such as Isaiah Hicks and Joel James ready to contribute.
If Meeks continues to improve his conditioning, though, he could reasonably become an elite college center with averages of about 15 points and nine or 10 rebounds per game.
3. Justin Jackson
4 of 6
Justin Jackson showed in the last few weeks of the season that he is truly capable of great things.
The 6'8" guard turned into a consistent scorer with double-digit points in 11 of his final 12 games, finding ways to be more aggressive with the ball in each outing. Although his outside shooting wasn't always the best, he remains a matchup nightmare with few collegiate players capable of defending him.
Considering he scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the ACC tournament against an elite defense like Virginia, Jackson has the ability to put up some big numbers this season.
A deep roster of veteran players could limit the rising sophomore's touches, but the potential NBA lottery pick has the ability to take over and average 16-18 points per game.
2. Brice Johnson
5 of 6
Although he disappeared at times, Brice Johnson had some big games last season and was a double-double threat just about every time he stepped on the court.
The forward is a perfect fit for the system, using his athleticism and quickness to run the floor and finish above the rim. He also developed an impressive ability to score in the low post either facing up or with his back to the basket.
Like Meeks, there might almost be too much depth for Johnson to put up elite numbers. Still, he did average 20.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes last season and could approach these stats with more playing time next year.
With a team-leading defensive rating of 94.9, per Basketball-Reference.com, he is already one of the top all-around forwards in the conference. If he can average close to 17 points and nine rebounds per game, he will receive the accolades that go with it.
1. Marcus Paige
6 of 6
Despite leading North Carolina with 14.1 points per game last season, it was undeniably a disappointing year for Marcus Paige considering he averaged 17.5 points per game the year before.
The guard came into the year as a preseason All-American but could only manage third-team All-ACC.
One of the keys for him is to be more aggressive going into the lane next season. While he was just as good of an outside shooter as a sophomore (86-of-221 from three) and junior (94-of-238), he took about two fewer two-point attempts per game while struggling to get to the line (free-throw rate dropped from 33.6 percent to 26.7 percent, according to KenPom.com).
Paige is an elite free-throw shooter and can help himself and the Tar Heels by drawing more fouls. He would get an opportunity for more points with a chance to be a more efficient scorer.
If he reaches his potential and averages over 20 points per game, he has a chance to become ACC Player of the Year.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round college basketball talk and more sports analysis.
.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")
.png?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")
