Phil Ford

Phil Ford (born February 9, 1956) played guard in the NBA after a standout college career with the North Carolina Tar Heels under coach Dean Smith. As a freshman in 1974–75, he averaged 16.4 points and 5.2 assists per game — both UNC freshman records that stood for over 20 years — and became the first freshman in ACC history to win tournament MVP, leading North Carolina to the 1975 ACC Tournament championship. Ford grew up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, graduating from Rocky Mount Senior High School in 1974 before going on to earn All-American honors at UNC.