In honor of 100 years of N.C. State basketball, Technician has chosen what it belives to be the Pack’s top player at each of the five positions.
Guard — Lou Pucillo, 1957-59
Nicknamed “Bob Cousy of the collegians,” Pucillo led the Pack to its third ACC championship and fourth ACC tournament championship in 1959. Pucillo, during the 1959 season, was named ACC player of the year, ACC Athlete of the Year and was named the Most Valuable player for the ACC tournament. The point guard was named ALL-ACC in both 1958 and 1959 and averaged 12.8 points per game in his career.
Honorable Mention: Chris Corchiani
Guard — Rodney Monroe, 1988-91
Monroe had one of the single greatest seasons by any Pack player in 1991, when he was named ACC player of the year. During that year, Monroe led the ACC in scoring, averaging 27 points per game, while scoring in double digits in 31 games and shooting 88.5 percent from the field. He is the all-time State record holder for career points with 2,551, passing former State player David Thompson. Monroe was named to the All-ACC team in 1989 and 1991, All-ACC tournament team in 1988 and 1991 and was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Men’s Basketball team in 2002.
Honorable Mention: Julius Hodge
Forward — David Thompson, 1973-1975
David Thompson is the single greatest basketball player in the history of the N.C. State, and the ACC, and is arguably the best college basketball player to ever play in the NCAA. Thompson was a two-time National Player of the Year, a two-time ACC Athlete of the Year and a three-time All-American. Thompson was also the leader of the 1974 team that won N.C. State’s first national championship. The forward was also named to an All-Tournament team in every tournament he played in and was the Final Four MVP in 1974. In 1973, Thompson played in the World University Games, where he led the United States to a championship in Moscow; he was also named the MVP of the games. While at State, Thompson averaged 26.8 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game, and in the 1973 and 1974 season led the Pack to back-to-back ACC titles and a combined 57-1 record. In 1996, Thompson was elected into the basketball Hall of Fame and was also named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Men’s Basketball team in 2002.
Honorable Mention: Kenny Carr
Forward — Dick Dickey
During Dick Dickey’s time at State he knew nothing but winning. In his four years with the Pack, he helped to lead it to four straight Southern Conference titles, amassed a 111-24 record over four seasons and had a career average of 13.4 points per game. Dickey is also the only Pack player in history to be named All-Conference first team in four straight seasons. The forward was named to the All-NCAA Final Four team in 1950, the Dixie Classic MVP in 1949 and was named to the All-Southern Conference Tournament team three times. Dickey was also the first Pack player to be drafted into the NBA, when he was drafted in 1960 to the Boston Celtics.
Center — Tommy Burleson, 1971-1974
The seven-foot four-inch center was the inside force that helped to lead the Pack to a national title in 1974, averaging 18.2 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game throughout the season. Overshadowed at times by David Thompson, the big man was a two-time ACC tournament MVP, first team All-ACC in 1972, 1973 and 1974 and was named to the ALL-NCAA Finals team in 1974. Burleson averaged a career double-double, averaging 19.0 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game and is the second all-time leading rebounder in State history. While playing for the Pack Burleson helped the team to a 73-11 record. Burleson also played on the U.S. team that won the World University Games and was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Men’s Basketball team.
Honorable Mention: Ronnie Shavlik
Source: N.C. State Athletics
