Can RJ Davis dunk? Exploring UNC star's height and vertical
North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis is one of the most anticipated seniors to return to the college basketball hardwood. The Naismith and Wooden Award finalist is a two-time UNC Most Valuable Player of the Year and the first Tar Heel to earn the Jerry West Award. Davis also won the 2024 ACC Player of the Year award with 68 votes out of 75.
Davis also has statistical achievements with the Tar Heels. His 42 points against Miami in February made him the highest-scoring UNC player in the Dean Smith Center. He holds the single-season mantle for most 3-pointers (113) and is only six shy of clinching the all-time program record (as of Dec. 17, 2024). With that, let's see whether the 6-foot Davis has enough hops to dunk the basketball.
Can RJ Davis dunk?
When it comes to athleticism, RJ Davis is a quick and slippery ball handler with the ability to finish acrobatically. On the court, he acts as the glue to the roster. He is the cultural leader off the court, pushing his teammates to embrace expectations and pressure.
Even though he is not seen as a high-flier, Davis has showcased his ability to get up and throw it down during a game. The senior touched on fans' doubts by posting a clip of his dunk in October.
He intercepted a handoff from Notre Dame's Tony Sanders Jr. for an easy fastbreak dunk in the 2021 ACC Tournament. However, the basket was called off due to a traveling violation.
"This is for everyone who thinks I can’t dunk or don’t have an in game dunk in my college career😂," he wrote.
Despite being eligible for the draft this summer, RJ Davis was not included in the NBA's list of early draft candidates, keeping him away from participating in the NBA combine. With that, there is no solid proof of Davis' anthropometrics and other measurements such as his vertical, standing reach and wingspan.
Davis was granted an extra year of eligibility this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He aims to help the North Carolina Tar Heels win the national championship and elevate his draft stock in his final year of college basketball.