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5 questions with North Carolina’s RJ Davis

RJ Davis is on the short list of National Player of the Year candidates entering the 2024-25 college basketball season. After earning first-team All-American honors a year ago, the reigning ACC Player of the Year is back for a fifth season as he aims to lead North Carolina to a deep run in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. I caught up with Davis this past week in Chapel Hill to discuss why he came back to school, life without Armando Bacot, and much more.

Jon Rothstein: How would you describe your feelings after losing to Alabama last March in the Sweet 16?

RJ Davis: I had a lot of mixed emotions. Initially, I was coming off a great year and we had a great win in the previous game against Michigan State and obviously, we had a mindset of winning against Alabama. Obviously, things didn’t go our way or my way. I didn’t shoot the ball well. I held myself accountable for that. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I think everything happens for a reason. I don’t know what that reason is yet, but I’m sure I’ll find it. It was emotional for me because I felt like I put a lot on myself. I prepared really hard for that game and to come up short like that, it took a toll on me. But it definitely motivated me entering this year — especially because it’s my last year — to be a better player and to be a better leader.

Rothstein: What are the biggest reasons why you decided to come back for a fifth year?

Davis: I think I still have some unfinished business. I always had the goal to win a national title. I was one rebound away in my sophomore year and last year, we had a really great team with a really great chance to get that accomplished. Another reason was how I want my legacy to my remembered at this university. Not just as an athlete, but as a person. To leave an impact — not just for myself, but for my teammates as well. It’s a prestigious university that not a lot of people get to play at.

Rothstein: What’s it like going through the start of practice without Armando Bacot?

Davis: It’s different. I always say that it felt like Armando was here eight years and not five. But it’s different, not having your partner with you — the guy that you’ve been through both wins and losses with. There’s definitely a piece that’s missing from this university because of how much he meant to this program. I definitely miss having Armando out there, but I think it’s good for me in terms of challenging me to be a leader. It challenges me to be the veteran and the leader that this team needs.

Rothstein: Last year you made 50 more three-point shots than you did during the previous season. What new wrinkles in your game do you plan to display during the upcoming year?

Davis: Really just showing that I’m an all-around player. I think a lot of people know me for my scoring, but I think a thing that’s underrated is my playmaking. I don’t think that gets talked about a lot. That’s going to be a true testament to my work. I’m really just focusing on my all-around game. My three-point game, my defense improved a lot last year, and I’m looking to continue that this year. I’m looking to be an all-around player — not just scoring — but whatever it takes to win.

Rothstein: How is this North Carolina team going to be different than the one that earned a number one seed in last season’s NCAA Tournament?

Davis: We’re a lot younger this year. Last year we had a lot of old guys. This year we’re a lot younger, but we’re a lot more athletic. From Drake (Powell) to Ian (Jackson) to Seth (Trimble) to Jalen (Washington), we’re going to be playing a lot faster and getting up and down a lot. We have a lot of talent, but we just have to piece it together.

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