One of the greatest Tar Heels to ever grace a basketball court, UNC’s Antawn Jamison received a high honor this month. Jamison and seven other college basketball legends were enshrined into the College Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Jamison played three years for Carolina, from 1995-97 under head coach Dean Smith and 1997-98 under head coach Bill Guthridge, following Smith’s retirement. He immediately made an impact his freshman season, averaging 15 points per game, shooting 62.4 percent and starting 29 of 32 games for UNC.

The following year, Jamison and teammates Vince Carter and Shammond Williams led the Tar Heels to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and an appearance in the 1997 Final Four. Jamison’s scoring improved to 19.1 points per game.

Jamison’s junior season of 1997-98 quickly made him a Carolina legend. In the Tar Heels’ first season with Guthridge at the helm, Jamison exploded for 22.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. With a returning core of Jamison, Carter and Williams, UNC ascended to the No. 1 ranking with a 17-0 start to the season. Jamison scored 35 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in a win for No. 2 Carolina over No. 1 Duke in the Smith Center, a performance still remembered as one of the most electric in UNC history. Powered by Jamison, the Tar Heels finished the regular season 27-3, won the ACC Tournament, earned a second consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and appeared in the Final Four once again.

For the 1997-98 season, Jamison was named the ACC Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, a first-team All-American and the consensus 1997-98 National Player of the Year by all six major awards, becoming the 10th Tar Heel to win National Player of the Year honors. Jamison was also named a first-team All-ACC performer for all three of his years in Chapel Hill. He declared for the NBA Draft after the 1997-98 season, and was selected No. 4 overall. Carter followed him at No. 5.

Jamison’s No. 33 jersey was retired by the basketball program in 2000. It is currently one of only eight jerseys to be retired by the team.

A fellow member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021 may be a familiar name to Tar Heel fans: the late Maryland legend Len Bias, who competed against Smith’s UNC teams from 1982-86.

 

Featured image via Keeping It Heel

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Former Tar Heel Larry Miller Voted into College Basketball Hall of Fame
Larry Miller, who starred with the UNC men’s basketball team from 1965 through 1968, will become the 13th Tar Heel to be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced the Hall’s most recent class Wednesday, with Miller among such names as Richard “Rip” Hamilton of UConn and […]
UNC Men's Basketball Brings Smiles, Laughter to ACC Tipoff
At least one high-profile team in Chapel Hill appears to be having fun. Head coach Hubert Davis, guard Seth Trimble and center Henri Veesaar were all in a jovial mood at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon, cracking smiles and telling jokes during their allotted 15 minutes at the podium. During Davis’ speaking time, […]
'You Play for So Much More': Highlights from UNC Men's Basketball's Day at the ACC Tipoff
UNC head coach Hubert Davis, guard Seth Trimble and center Henri Veesaar spoke at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. The Tar Heels have a new-look roster this season, featuring multiple incoming transfers and freshmen. Trimble and forward James Brown are the only scholarship players returning from the 2024-25 season. Here are selected highlights […]
Chansky's Notebook: Size and Shooting
UNC's revamped basketball roster is full of size and talent, but there is one apparent weakness which has shown itself.
Chansky's Notebook: New 'Agent' Man
Jim Tanner, the new GM of UNC men's basketball, is another alumnus who has joined the program and just what Hubert Davis said he wanted.
UNC Men's Basketball Has Played a Game in 40 of 50 States. Here's How It Can Fill Out the Map.
Few programs in men’s college basketball are as historically well-traveled as UNC. Throughout their more-than-century on the hardwood, the Tar Heels have traveled the length and breadth of the country, from a cozy community center in Hickory to the cavernous Ford Field in Detroit. There are other odd confines which are on record as having […]
'This University Means Everything to Me': UNC's Seth Trimble is Ready for His Senior Moment
UNC's Seth Trimble is confident his ability to lead will help the new-look Tar Heels have a successful season.
UNC Men's Basketball's Blue-White Game Scheduled for October 4
The UNC men’s basketball team will host its annual Blue-White scrimmage in the Dean Smith Center on Saturday, October 4. The game will begin approximately one hour after the conclusion of the UNC vs. Clemson football game, which kicks off at 12 p.m. in Kenan Stadium. 🚨 Blue-White Scrimmage is official 🚨 🗓️ Saturday, October […]
Chansky's Notebook: 'Super' Seth
As UNC's one returning starter and captain of the 2025-26 team, Seth Trimble is helping integrate nine new players into the system.
Chansky's Notebook: The New Big
UNC's brand landed Arizona's Henri Veesaar out of the transfer portal, with a little help from a former Tar Heel star.
›