North Carolina basketball guard RJ Davis will be back for a fifth season with the Tar Heels, Davis announced Wednesday morning on social media.
“I’m back,” Davis said.
O ACC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in his senior season for the Tar Heels, Davis averaged 21.2 points to lead the ACC in scoring and connected on 39.8% of his 3-pointers.
He is the first Tar Heel to win the Jerry West Award, given annually by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to the nation’s best point guard. Davis made a career-high seven 3s against Miami on February 26, when he scored 42 points to set the Smith Center’s all-time record.
Davis is UNC’s all-time leader in free throw percentage (.858), is second in 3-pointers made (274) and fifth in scoring (2,088 points). Phil Ford is the only Tar Heel guard with more points.
With Davis back, the Tar Heels will likely be among the favorites to compete for the 2025 national championship.
What UNC’s 2024-25 roster looks like with RJ Davis
The Tar Heels lost Seth Trimble to the transfer portal and got him back a few weeks later. With the return of Trimble, RJ Davis, along with the arrival of freshman Ian Jackson and the expected return of sophomore Elliot Cadeau, UNC will have one of the best defensive depths in the country.
The added jumps Belmont transfers Cade Tyson, a long wing who should be able to help replace Cormac Ryan, but needs more help at the position to help fill the gaps left by Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram. Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi and Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero are among the portal entries reportedly interested in joining UNC.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared in The Fayetteville Observer: RJ Davis returning to North Carolina basketball for 2024-25 season
