All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Standout Seeking Back-To-Back National Honors

There should be no doubt that fifth-year UNC basketball guard RJ Davis is among the preseason favorites to win the Jerry West Award.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball guard RJ Davis
UNC basketball guard RJ Davis / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
In this story:

On Tuesday, the Naismith Hall of Fame revealed the 20-player preseason watchlist for the Jerry West Award, named after the NBA logo's silhouetted Hall of Famer and presented annually to the top shooting guard in Division I. Of course, it would have been indefensible if the owner of the distinction's 2023-24 hardware, UNC basketball treasure RJ Davis, wasn't on that list.

ALSO READ: Announcement Primer for In-State UNC Recruit Isaiah Denis

No worries there:

And note that the 23-year-old Davis has been boosting his scoring one year to the next, to the tune of a jump from 8.4 points per game as a freshman in the final season of the Roy Williams era to an ACC-best 21.2 as a senior in the third season of Hubert Davis' reign as head coach in Chapel Hill.

Now, he's primed to defend his title while helping the program build on last season's 29-8 campaign, ACC regular season crown, No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed, and Sweet 16 appearance.

RELATED: Tar Heel Star RJ Davis Heats Up Instantly in Return From Injury

In 2023-24, RJ Davis added consensus All-American honors, including his Associated Press First Team All-America selection, not to mention the fact he became the first UNC basketball player to take home ACC Player of the Year since Justin Jackson in 2016-17.

Plus, he's this year's Preseason ACC Player of the Year.

The Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award preseason watchlist includes four more ACC talents: Duke freshman Kon Knueppel, Duke sophomore Caleb Foster, Wake Forest senior Hunter Sallis, and Miami freshman Jalil Bethea.

ALSO READ: Five-Star 2025 UNC Target Plans to Reopen Recruitment

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball news.

Published
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.

Home/Basketball