Basketball College Careers of Greatest NBA Players of All Time: Michael Jordan Born in Brooklyn, New York, but raised in North Carolina, Michael Jordan played baseball, football and basketball throughout high school. During his sophomore year, Jordan was in fact cut from the varsity team for being too short, however in his senior year he was an All-American, all the while averaging a triple double. Jordan earned a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he quickly proved his potential becoming the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Freshman of the Year. In that first season as a Tar Heel, Jordan helped James Worthy lead the team into the NCAA Finals against Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas. Jordan would hit the shot in the final seconds to give North Carolina the 63 to 62 victory and North Carolina its 2nd championship. Jordan went on to describe this game-winning shot as the major turning point in his basketball career. In his junior season, Jordan would win just about every trophy they could give away, receiving honors such as USBWA College Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year and the Adolph Rupp Trophy. However, without Worthy Jordan would n ever win another NCAA title, finishing in the elite eight and sweet sixteen in the 2 following years. In 1984, Jordan would begin his legendary pro-career with the Chicago Bulls, where he would go on to win 6 NBA championships. Scripted by Derek Allen