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UNC Basketball: UNC commit goes off for 38-point offensive outburst

By Blake Cockrum

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Rameses, the North Carolina Tar Heels mascot, is seen as they take on the Iona Gaels during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Rameses, the North Carolina Tar Heels mascot, is seen as they take on the Iona Gaels during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Class of 2020 UNC basketball commit goes off for 38 points against conference rival on Friday night

The day after he was chosen to be a 2020 McDonald’s All-American, University of North Carolina commit R.J. Davis went off for 38 points in a 77-67 road victory for Archbishop Stepinac over conference rival Cardinal Hayes.

Davis, a 6-foot-1, 164-pound combo guard from White Plains, New York, knocked down 10-of-17 shots for the game, and 16-of-18 attempts at the free throw line. He’s now shooting better than 86 percent from the foul line this season. Despite an uncharacteristically low-scoring first quarter, Davis had 12 points at halftime.

It was after the intermission, though, that Davis put on an offensive clinic, scoring 26 of his 38 points for the game, including 14 from the charity stripe. On top of that, he pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out six assists for the Crusaders, who now sit at 11-5 overall, and 8-1 in league play.

According to his coach, Pat Massaroni, it was business as usual for the future Tar Heel. Massaroni believes that Davis embraces the pressure and fanfare that goes along with being one of the top prospects in his class, calling him a ‘big-time player.’

"“Coach Williams called me last night and congratulated me,” Davis said. “He wished me the best. He just wanted me to know he was super proud of me and, with having four UNC players chosen, he was super proud of that. He just told me to finish the year strong.”"

For the season, Davis is now averaging 26.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He’s turning in impressive performances night after night, and guiding Archbishop Stepinac to a 4-3 record over the last seven games — a stretch in which the Crusaders have been without one of their top players, 2021 Duke commit Adrian Griffin, Jr.

Davis is the No. 58 player in the class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked eighth among players at his position, and No. 2 in the state of New York. ESPN, on the other hand, has Davis ranked 39th in the latest ESPN 100, and No. 1 in the state of New York.

Next. UNC extends offer to teammate of Day'Ron Sharpe. dark

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