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20th Century Top 50
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Rank |
Profile |
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1
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Michael Jordan,
Wilmington
College player of year at North Carolina in 1984; six NBA titles with Chicago Bulls; member of '84 and '92 U.S. Olympic
gold-medal-winning teams.
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2
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Richard Petty,
Randleman
Seven-time Daytona 500 champion; tops NASCAR in wins (200), poles (127) and
wins in a season (27 in 1967).
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3
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Buck Leonard,
Rocky Mount
Known as the Black Lou Gehrig; batted .340 and averaged
34 home runs during 17-year Negro leagues career.
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4
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David Thompson,
Shelby
Three-time All-America led North Carolina State to 1974
NCAA basketball title.
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5
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John Lucas,
Durham
Two-time basketball and tennis All-America at Maryland; broke Pete Maravich's single-season state high school scoring mark.
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6
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Dale Earnhardt,
Kannapolis
Alltime NASCAR money leader with more than $34 million; seven-time points leader; sixth in career wins with 73.
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7
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Catfish Hunter,
Hertford
Cy Young winner with 1974 A's; won 20 games or more
five straight years ('71 to '75); played on five World Series winners with A's and Yankees.
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8
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James Worthy,
Gastonia
MVP of 1982 Final Four led North Carolina to NCAA title; seven-time NBA All-Star with Lakers.
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9
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Sonny Jurgensen,
Wilmington
Set then NFL records for attempts (508), completions (288) and yards (3,747)
with Redskins in 1967; played in five Pro Bowls.
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10
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Ray Floyd,
Fayetteville
Only man to win on PGA Tour and Senior tour in same
year (1992); won four majors.
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11
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Enos Slaughter,
Roxboro
As Cardinals outfielder from 1938 to '53 twice led the NL in triples; batted .300 over 19 seasons.
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12
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Gaylord Perry,
Williamston
Confessed spitballer won
Cy Young in AL (Indians, 1972) and NL (Padres, '78).
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13
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Bobby Bell,
Shelby
All-state high school quarterback; starred as Chiefs linebacker in Super Bowls
I and IV; eight-time All-AFL.
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14
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Charlie (Choo-Choo) Justice,
Asheville
As senior tailback at Lee Edwards High led offense that outscored opposition 400-6; at UNC from 1946 to '49 racked up then NCAA-record
4,883 yards of total offense.
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15
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Hoyt Wilhelm,
Huntersville
Pitcher played in major-league- record 1,070 games from 1952 to '72, winning 143 and saving 227.
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16
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Phil Ford,
Rocky Mount
Three-time All-America guard
is UNC's alltime leading
scorer, with 2,290 points; ACC player of the year in 1979.
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17
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Dominique Wilkins,
Washington
Nine-time All-Star forward for Hawks is one of nine
NBA players to score more than 25,000 points.
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18
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Charlie Sifford,
Charlotte
First black man to win a PGA Tour event, the 1967
Hartford Open; won '75 PGA
Seniors championship.
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19
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Carl Eller,
Winston-Salem
Starred as a two-way starter at Minnesota; six-time All-Pro
as defensive end with Vikings.
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20
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Jim Beatty,
Charlotte
Track standout at North Carolina set U.S. record with 3:58.9 mile in 1960; first person to run sub-four-minute indoor mile.
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21
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Bob McAdoo,
Greensboro
Won state high jump title
for Greensboro High in 1969; '75 NBA MVP; led
league in scoring three times.
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22
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Roman Gabriel,
Wilmington
North Carolina State
All-America quarterback; was NFL MVP with Rams
in 1969; All-Pro four times.
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23
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Al Dowtin,
Arden
All-America basketball player at Wake Forest in 1920s; Demon Deacons' first golf coach; played in '35 U.S. Open, '41 U.S. Amateur.
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24
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Sam Jones,
Wilmington
Five-time NBA All-Star; scored 15,441 points and helped
Celtics win 10 championships.
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25
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Dwight Clark,
Charlotte
Niners' No. 2 career receiving leader; made leaping
catch against Dallas in 1981 NFC title game to
boost team to first Super Bowl.
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26
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Lou Hudson,
Greensboro
Minnesota All-America; averaged 20.2 points and
4.4 rebounds with Hawks
and Lakers from 1966 to '79.
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27
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Dale Jarrett,
Newton
First driver to win Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in same season (1996); won career-high six events in '97.
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28
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Wes Ferrell,
Greensboro
Six-time 20-game winner
went 193-128 over 15-year major league career; led AL
in complete games four times.
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29
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Walter Davis,
Charlotte
Member of 1976 U.S. Olympic gold-medal-winning basketball team; six-time NBA All-Star.
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30
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Bobby Jones,
Charlotte
Four-time NBA All-Star and eight-time all-defensive selection; mainstay on 76ers' 1983 NBA title team.
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31
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Luther (Wimpy) Lassiter,
Elizabeth City
Regarded by many as
greatest nine-ball player; won 1969 BCA U.S. Open and
1971 Stardust World all-around championship.
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32
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Walt Bellamy,
New Bern
Two-time All-America at Indiana; played on 1960 Olympic gold-medal-winning basketball team; averaged 31.6 points as a
rookie with Chicago Packers.
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33
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Smokey Burgess,
Caroleen
Five-time All-Star catcher; batted .333 in Pirates' 1960
World Series win over Yankees.
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34
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Prince Nufer Dixon,
Goldsboro
America's dominant
female swimmer in 1930s and '40s; set world record in
50-meter backstroke in 1941.
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35
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Cedric Maxwell,
Kinston
Led underdog UNC Charlotte
to 1977 Final Four; with Celtics, MVP of '81 NBA Finals.
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36
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Kathy McMillan,
Raeford
Hoke County High track
star won long jump silver medal in 1976 Olympics ; took '76 national title with U.S.-record 22' 3" leap.
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37
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Mike Caldwell,
Tarboro
Quarterbacked Tarboro High to 3A title; struck out 36 in 18-inning game vs. Washington High; went 137-130 in
majors from 1971 to '84; was AL Cy Young runner-up in '78.
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38
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Lee Petty,
Randleman
Won 1954, '58 and '59 NASCAR championships and
inaugural Daytona 500, in '59.
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39
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Junior Johnson,
Ronda
Won 47 poles and 50 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
races from 1953 to '66.
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40
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Floyd Simmons,
Charlotte
UNC's greatest all-around athlete won bronze in decathlon at 1948 and '52 Olympics; played fullback for Tar Heels.
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41
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Meadowlark Lemon,
Wilmington
All-state football and basketball player at Williston High; played in 5,000-plus games with Globetrotters.
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42
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Buck Baker,
Charlotte
Won 46 races, including the Southern 500 three times; first back-to-back Winston
Series champion in 1956 and '57.
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43
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Andrea Stinson,
Charlotte
Charlotte Sting guard was runner-up in 1997 WNBA MVP voting; led North Carolina State in scoring in '89, '90 and '91.
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44
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Brad Daugherty,
Asheville
Started at North Carolina as 16-year-old freshman; Cavaliers' career leader in points and rebounds.
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45
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Harvie Ward Jr.,
Tarboro
Two-time U.S. Amateur
golf champ (1955, '56) also won British Amateur, Canadian Amateur championships.
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46
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Ned Jarrett,
Newton
NASCAR pioneer won 36 poles and 50 races; won 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington.
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47
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Buck Williams,
Rocky Mount
Member of 1980 U.S. Olympic team; '82 NBA Rookie of Year; averaged 18.3 points and
12.5 rebounds in 1986-87.
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48
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Francis Rogallo,
Kitty Hawk
In 1940s the Father of Hang Gliding created delta
wings, which led to design of hang gliders.
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49
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Charlie Sanders,
Greensboro
Lions tight end from 1968 to '77; played in seven Pro Bowls; caught then team-record
336 passes for 4,817 yards.
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50
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Walter (Teepot) Frye,
Stoneville
Stoneville High shortstop
is considered the best fielding infielder in state history;
coached Oak Ridge High to a state title in 1974.
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