RJ Davis has been named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year and unanimously selected for the Preseason All-ACC First Team. UNC basketball is also projected to finish second in the ACC, just behind perennial preseason favorite Duke.
Joining Davis on the Preseason All-ACC First Team are Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis, Miami guard Nigel Pack, and Notre Dame guard Markus Burton. Notably, the list is guard-heavy, with Davis standing out as the top player among them.
Last season, Davis was exceptional, posting averages of 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He also excelled in head-to-head matchups, scoring 36 points against Sallis and Wake Forest, and a career-high 42 points at home against Miami, though Pack was sidelined for that game.
His impressive play earned him a spot as a First Team All-American last year, and with the departures of key players like Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram, and Cormac Ryan, Davis will need to take on an even bigger role. Fortunately, he’s capable of leading the team.
Preseason ACC honors for @ariidavis_ đ¤
đ https://t.co/V8B9OO6wkz pic.twitter.com/2ylzUeIpfV
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 15, 2024
Davis will have support from talented, though mostly young and unproven, teammates, including sophomore point guard Elliot Cadeau, sharpshooter Cade Tyson (a Belmont transfer), and dynamic perimeter players Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. As the season progresses, Davis will have numerous high-profile games, including matchups against Kansas, Alabama, and top teams in the Maui Invitational, giving him ample opportunity to showcase his skills and solidify his preseason accolades into real achievements.