UNC Basketball backcourt duo named to CBS Sports' Top 100 and 1 rankings

Leading up to the start of the 2024-2025 college basketball season, CBS Sports released its annual Top 100 and 1 best players rankings.

This year, two UNC basketball standouts have earned spots on the list, as the backcourt duo of RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau look to make major noise in their second season together.

Davis comes in at No. 2 overall on the list, only trailing Mark Sears from Alabama. Here's what Matt Norlander had to say regarding the UNC basketball star guard:

2. RJ Davis | North Carolina

Position: Guard | Year: Graduate

"The only returning CBS Sports First Team All-American, Davis was highly regarded a year ago  — he ranked No. 19 on last year's list — then proceeded to outshine all expectations by putting up 21.2 points, sinking 39.8% of his 3-point attempts, grabbing 3.6 rebounds and dishing 3.5 assists. He is North Carolina's engine and the Tar Heels have Final Four hopes because he opted to come back. Davis has 2,088 points to his name, ranking fifth in North Carolina history. Tyler Hansbrough holds the all-time record at 2,872. 

Davis would need to log 35 games and average 22.4 to catch him. He's got a shot. Davis is also the program's all-time free-throw percentage leader (85.8%) and is the only player in program history to notch 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 250 three-pointers and 100 steals. His 113 treys last season set the Tar Heel record. Will he break it in 2025? A quintessentially great college basketball player. Big buckets, big confidence, big program, done it all at one school. Easy to root for."

Cracking the Top 100 at No. 85 is sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau. Now with a season of college experience under his belt, the Tar Heels are hopeful that Cadeau is ready to have a breakout season in Chapel Hill.

85. Elliot Cadeau | North Carolina

Position: Guard | Year: Sophomore

"While his freshman season didn't necessarily live up to expectations, North Carolina was a better team when he was on the floor, and his presence undoubtedly made the game easier for RJ Davis. This year, it sounds like Hubert Davis is expecting a significant bounce-back from what was previously one of high school basketball's best point guards."

Davis, Cadeau and the UNC basketball program open up the 2024-2025 season with a non-conference matchup with Elon on November 4 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.