Who is your current favorite Tar Heel in the pros?

The NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the MLB regular season are all happening right now, so needless to say there’s more than enough sports action to go around. It’s hard to keep track of it all if you a fan of each of the three major pro sports, but for many of us here in the Research Triangle area, we are locked in on the Carolina Hurricanes as they try to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006.

While there isn’t really a UNC tie to be found in the NHL Playoffs right now, there is one that remains when looking at the NBA Playoffs. Former Tar Heel Harrison Barnes is doing his part to help the San Antonio Spurs get past the Oklahoma City Thunder, and if they pull it off, it will mean another trip to the NBA Finals, and another chance for him to add a championship ring to his collection. Thinking about how Barnes is one of my favorite NBA Tar Heels in recent memory brought to mind a question: which pro Tar Heels are your favorites right now?

While I already mentioned Barnes, it is hard to not have Drake Maye as my current favorite pro Heel. His 2026 campaign with the New England Patriots was one of the most fun things that I’ve witnessed from a Carolina alumni in quite a while. I will be eagerly awaiting the start of the 2026 season to see if he can repeat his MVP-caliber quarterback play, and perhaps he will end the season with a Super Bowl ring on his finger this time.

But let’s hear from all of you: who is your current favorite Tar Heel in the pros? Also, do you think your favorite is likely to change once Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson are selected in the NBA Draft? Let us know in the comments below.