All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Guard Lands on National Preseason Watch List

UNC basketball senior RJ Davis is a preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy Award.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball guard RJ Davis (Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports)
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On Monday afternoon, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame revealed a 20-deep watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, which recognizes the top point guard in Division I hoops. And the list includes UNC basketball veteran playmaker RJ Davis.

Davis, who has been in the starting lineup for all but one of the Tar Heels' 72 games between the past two seasons and is likely to be a starter again this season, averaged career-highs in 2022-23 with his 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game.

He shot 43.8 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from deep, and 88.1 percent at the charity stripe.

Davis is the only UNC basketball guard on the Bob Cousy Award watch list. However, there's no doubt five-star freshman Elliot Cadeau, another projected starter, has a chance to begin playing his way onto it once the season starts on Nov. 6 in Chapel Hill against Radford.

The preseason Bob Cousy Award candidates include three other ACC backcourt talents: Duke sophomore Tyrese Proctor, Miami senior Nijel Pack, and Syracuse sophomore Judah Mintz.

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Three of the award's 20 all-time winners are Tar Heels: Raymond Felton as a junior in 2005, Ty Lawson as a junior in 2009, and Kendall Marshall as a sophomore in 2012.

Before the 22-year-old RJ Davis and the 2023-24 UNC basketball squad take the court against Radford to tip off the third regular season of Hubert Davis' coaching reign, they'll host St. Augustine's for an exhibition game in the Dean E. Smith Center at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday (ACCNX).

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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