Some would say the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina is the best in college basketball. Some would even go as far as saying it’s the biggest rivalry in all of college sports. When it comes to the Blue Devils vs the Tar Heels, every matchup has the potential to be an instant classic.
Some of the greatest players in the history of Men’s College Basketball have played for Duke or UNC and moved on to the NBA. But while a lot of them finding success, not all of them do. Let’s take a look at the players who achieved NCAA greatness but left all the glory on Tobacco Road, failing to cut it in the NBA.
Tyler Hansbrough: 2009, 13th Pick
Tyler Hansbrough was the first player in ACC history to not only be named First Team All-ACC four times, but to also be named to a First Team All-American squad in each of his four seasons. He was also named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2006 and ACC Player of the Year in 2008 while sweeping all national player of the year awards that year as well.
After an eight-year NBA career, where he played for three different NBA teams, Hansbrough continued his NBA career in China, playing there until 2020 when the pandemic helped to end his playing career. However, Hansbrough then gave broadcasting a try.
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