RJ Davis is Coming Back; UNC Star Guard Confirms Fifth Season in Chapel Hill

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The top shooting guard in college basketball is returning to North Carolina for a fifth season. RJ Davis confirmed with an overnight "I'm back" social media announcement early Wednesday that he's returning to UNC after weighing his professional options since the season concluded.

The senior guard from White Plains, N.Y. has worked his way up to fifth on UNC's all-time scoring list over his four-year career, and has a year of college eligibility remaining.

Davis was a consensus First Team All-American this past season, the 19th Tar Heel all-time to earn that honor, and was named ACC Player of the Year. Those achievements qualify him for his jersey to hang in the Smith Center rafters. He was also chosen for the Jerry West Award, given to the nation's best shooting guard. Davis posted a career-high 21.2 points per game on 42.8% shooting from the field and 39.8% from three. He rounded out his stat line with 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

Davis is the program's all-time leader in free throw percentage, with a career mark of 85.8%. In the ACC Tournament championship game, Davis broke Justin Jackson's record for most 3-pointers made in a single season at UNC. That number now stands at 113. 

Davis scored 30 or more points on four different occasions this season. He set a Smith Center record with 42 points against Miami in February. He had 11 games this year with at least 25 points. In a non-conference game against Charleston Southern, Davis recorded the first 20-point, 10-assist double-double of his career. Nationally, Davis finished 16th in the country in points per game.

"When you're wanting to coach somebody, he's the example of what you want," UNC coach Hubert Davis said during the season. "And it's just not on the court. He gets it done in the classroom, he gets it done in the community. He's a great teammate, he's the hardest worker ... Comes to work every day, gives us his best.

"His ability to be able to score off the bounce and also coming off screens. His ability to distribute. He's just a wonderful player. His character and his commitment to stay here. To be here four years, in a time where there's so much change. His commitment to this team, this program, this community and this university is something that should be celebrated here.

North Carolina won the ACC regular season title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before losing 89-87 to Alabama in the Sweet 16. Davis went 4-20 from the floor that game and finished with 16 points, his first game without a made three-pointer this season. Davis was quite reflective when answering questions to reporters in the locker room following the game.