Former UNC standouts Tyler Hansbrough and Eddie Pope are part of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, the Hall announced Monday. Hansbrough, Pope and nine other honorees will be inducted May 1 in Greensboro.
The honor is just another on a long list for Hansbrough, who is already a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame. A four-time first team All-American and the 2008 National Player of the Year, Hansbrough helped lead the UNC men’s basketball program on a dominant four-year run which culminated in the 2009 national championship. During Hansbrough’s playing career, the Tar Heels went 120-22.
Hansbrough’s 2,872 career points are both the UNC program record and the ACC record. He is the only player in the history of the league to earn four first team All-ACC and All-America honors. Hansbrough also ranks fourth all-time in points scored in the NCAA Tournament. Since retiring from basketball, Hansbrough has resided in Chapel Hill and occasionally appeared on the Tar Heel Sports Network during men’s basketball broadcasts. He also teaches a class in UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
Pope was a decorated player both for the UNC men’s soccer program and the United States Men’s National Team. The High Point native played for the Tar Heels from 1992-95, was named first team All-ACC twice, first team All-America in 1994 and was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1996 Major League Soccer Draft. Pope was later named one of the 50 best players in ACC history.
As a professional, Pope earned five MLS all-star selections, won MLS Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997 and was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI team. He scored the MLS Cup-winning goal for D.C. United in 1997, then helped the club win the CONCACAF Champions Cup and InterAmerican Cup in 1998, scoring in both finals.
Pope appeared in 82 games across 11 years with the USMNT. He represented his country at the 1996 Olympic Games and at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the United States reached the quarterfinals. Pope started all five of the team’s games.
Pope and Hansbrough are the 68th and 69th former Tar Heel players, coaches or staff elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Hansbrough is the 20th men’s basketball alumnus to be enshrined, while Pope joins Lee Gliarmis, Sr. as the only other men’s soccer alumnus honored.
Among the nine other members of the Hall’s Class of 2026 are Houston men’s basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson (a Pembroke, N.C. native), former Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton (Gastonia) and retired tennis star John Isner (Greensboro).
Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill/Jon Gardiner
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