Watch: UNC's RJ Davis shows off impressive hoops skills to prep for defending his ACC crown with fierce drive
North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis is coming off a spectacular year where he averaged a career-high 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 42.8% shooting and a near 40% clip from the 3-point line. He lifted the ACC’s Player of the Year award by earning 68 of the 75 votes and was also a finalist for the Jerry West Award and John R. Wooden Award.
Now, as the 2024-25 season nears, Davis was seen leading the way during one of UNC’s practices. In a scrimmage, the guard gets the ball off the rebounder and sparks a coast-to-coast sprint. Pushing the pace, he maneuvers through a trio of defenders on the other end for a lefty layup.
Watch RJ Davis' play during practice in the video below shared by the Tar Heels on X/Twitter:
While RJ Davis aims to defend his ACC crown in his last collegiate season, UNC coach Hubert Davis will also have to hold his own as the 2023-24 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
Davis also made program history by breaking UNC's previous ACC Player of the Year winner, Justin Jackson’s record for 19 20-point games in a season (2016-17). He will need to display another level to his scoring to garner the award this time around.
The same goes for Hubert Davis, who led the Tar Heels to their first ACC regular season trophy under his guidance. The third-year coach led the roster to a 29-8 overall record (17-3 in league games) and became the first UNC coach since Roy Williams in 2011 to win the conference coaching award.
RJ Davis has a chance at creating UNC history
RJ Davis could end his college career on a historic note. He joined the program in 2020 and utilized the NCAA’s extra-year bylaws to increase his draft stock.
As the Tar Heels aim to be title contenders, Davis has a shot at becoming one of the most decorated players on the roster. Alongside benefiting heavily from NIL deals, RJ Davis could become the UNC Tar Heels' all-time scoring leader next season.
He is currently ranked fifth on the scoring leaderboard with 2,088 points, behind Sam Perkins (2,145), Phil Ford (2,290), Armando Bacot (2,348) and Tyler Hansbrough (2,872).
He could climb to second place in less than half of the season. However, surpassing Hansbrough will need him to produce a few points more than what he did last season – 785 to be precise – to break the record.
How do you think RJ Davis and the UNC Tar Heels will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.