Tommy Kearns

Thomas Francis Kearns Jr. (born October 6, 1936) is an American former professional basketball player. Born in New York City, he played collegiately for the University of North Carolina, where he was an integral part of the 1957 National Championship team. In the national championship game against the Kansas Jayhawks, North Carolina coach Frank McGuire sent Kearns out at the start of the game to jump center against the 7-foot-1-inch Wilt Chamberlain in an effort to rattle the opponent. Kearns lost the tip-off but scored 11 points in the game. He was named first-team All-ACC in 1957 and 1958 and second-team All-America in 1957. In recognition of his national accolades, his number 40 was honored by the University of North Carolina and hangs in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center.

Kearns was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the fourth round, 29th pick overall, of the 1958 NBA draft. He appeared in one game for the Nationals and scored two points during his professional basketball career. In 2000, he played coach Garrick in Finding Forrester, a film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Connery and Rob Brown.