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UNC Basketball: R.J. Davis honored as New York’s top player

By Blake Cockrum

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 18: R.J. Davis of Archbishop Stepinac High School in action against Briarcrest Christian School during the City of Palms Classic Day 1 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 18, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 18: R.J. Davis of Archbishop Stepinac High School in action against Briarcrest Christian School during the City of Palms Classic Day 1 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 18, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Class of 2020 UNC basketball signee R.J. Davis has been named New York state’s top player.

Archbishop Stepinac’s R.J. Davis had a decorated senior season that saw him become Westchester County’s all-time leading scorer, earn invitations to the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic and the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic, and jump into the top-50 of the 247Sports Composite.

On Wednesday, the future Tar Heel led 19 all-state basketball honorees , and was named the 2019-2020 Class AA Co-Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association. This is just the latest in a series of honors in his home state, as Davis was also named Mr. Basketball in New York, and earned Gatorade’s New York State Basketball Player of the Year honor.

And after averaging 26.5 points, eight rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game this season — while leading Stepinac to the archdiocesan championship — who better to walk away with all the hardware before joining the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill this fall?

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Davis is a good ball handler that can drive the lane with speed and efficiency. He’s good at creating his own offense, and setting up teammates to get theirs. He’s got quickness in the open court, and on the fast break, and can hit shots from all over the court. He’s also a good rebounder for a guard of his size. He gets to the free throw line often, and converts a high percentage of his shots there.

Davis will more than likely get the nod to start in 2020 alongside fellow incoming freshman guard Caleb Love. That’ll give the Tar Heels a young, but dynamic back court that should be able to pour in points nearly at will. The two rookies will also be afforded the advantage of having a veteran front court that includes probable ACC Player of the Year front-runner Garrison Brooks, and rising sophomore Armando Bacot. On the wing they’ll have a junior Leaky Black, along with a pair of freshman sharpshooters in Puff Johnson and Kerwin Walton.

Despite losing 19 games last season, and turning in their worst season of the Roy Williams era, things are looking up for the Tar Heels.

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