 After, he played in the McDonald's All-American game with future UNC teammates Eric Montross, Brian Reese, and Clifford Rozier.Phelps rose to prominence while playing college basketball for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina, with the Tar Heels.He was named as an All-Atlantic Coast Conference Honorable Mention in 1993, and was named to the 2nd Team in 1994.