RJ Davis named finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year.
Despite an NCAA Tournament run and an approaching game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, RJ Davis has gotten another national honor in recognition of his outstanding senior season. On Tuesday afternoon, RJ was officially declared a Naismith Trophy finalist. He was named to the midseason team earlier this year, but is now one of four players vying for college basketball’s most prized accolade. Zach Edey, Dalton Knecht, and Jamal Shead are the other finalists, all of whom are still dancing with their respective teams.
So far, RJ Davis is averaging 21.3 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds. He shoots 43.6% from the field and 87.2% from the foul line. RJ was crowned ACC Player of the Year a few weeks ago and has long been a contender for National Player of the Year. Well, those are no longer just talks. Anyone who has seen Davis play this year would argue that he is a legitimate candidate for this award. The voters definitely agree, and while Zach Edey appears to be the clear frontrunner, I believe RJ is a closer second than some may imagine.
The statistics and numbers do not do justice to RJ Davis’ performance with the Tar Heels in 2023-24. A 42-point performance against Miami and two or more three-pointers in 23 consecutive games are just a few highlights of his record streak. Beyond the statistics, RJ is extremely valuable to this North Carolina team. When he’s on the court, the game seems and functions differently. He can outplay you at all three levels and is an excellent passer. But we all knew this, because he is simply that good.
Congratulations to RJ on being a Naismith Finalist; I may be biased, but he gets my vote. Meanwhile, RJ Davis and the Tar Heels have bigger goals ahead of them, and Davis will need to be at his best to lead North Carolina to an Elite 8 appearance this evening.
