One name that completely eclipsed the big guns like Zach Edey and Cam Spencer in last March Madness was not a media-chosen star player but UNC’s RJ Davis. After leading the Tar Heels to a deep postseason run, the 6-ft guard dreamed of playing in the NBA. After his remarkable senior year, he sought feedback on his draft stock by entering his name for evaluation. However, with an extra year of college eligibility granted due to COVID-19, he had the option to continue building his legacy at UNC and he did exactly that.

The guard returned to UNC as the unanimous preseason ACC Player of the Year, aiming to solidify his legacy at North Carolina further. The graduate led the team and the conference in scoring last season, averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game and making history by setting the all-time scoring record at the Dean E. Smith Center, scoring 42 points against Miami in February. His senior season was filled with impressive accomplishments one after another. To learn about the up-and-coming star more, here’s everything you need to know about the Tar Heel’s 6-foot guard.

A closer look at UNC’s rising star

RJ Davis was born on October 21, 2001, in White Plains, New York. His father, Robert Davis was also a basketball player, scoring 2,118 points from 1982-86 at Mercy College. Robert still holds the Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., school’s career scoring record.

Davis played under Coach Patrick Massaroni at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York. His standout high school career earned him a spot in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game, and he was named Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2020.

RJ etched his name into Westchester County’s history by setting the all-time high school scoring record with 2,446 career points, surpassing the previous record held by Boston College standout Danya Abrams. His remarkable achievement reflected his consistency and growth throughout his high school journey.

By his senior year, Davis had taken his game to another level, averaging an impressive 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 34% from three-point range. His performance solidified his reputation as one of the top players in the nation.

At Archbishop Stepinac, Davis teamed up with Duke signee A.J. Griffin to lead their team to Archdiocese, city and state championships in 2017 and 2018, along with a win at the prestigious Torrey Pines Classic. Even as a junior, he had already showcased his talent, averaging 25.4 points per game, establishing a solid ground for his college career.

As a freshman, he became just the fourth shooting guard under Roy Williams to start in his college debut, joining the ranks of Marcus Ginyard, Wayne Ellington, and Justin Jackson. He made an immediate impact, scoring 11 points against Charleston on his debut. Davis later showcased his defensive abilities on numerous occasions.

He earned Carolina’s Defensive Player of the Game honors multiple times, showcasing his tenacity on defense in matchups against Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech being his favorite opponents. He scored in double figures 14 times during that season, with his best performance coming in the ACC quarterfinals, where he dropped 19 points against Virginia Tech.

In his sophomore season, Davis was UNC’s most improved player, starting in all of the games that season Davis averaged, 13.5 points and 3.6 assists per game and leading the team with 142 assists and 40 steals over the season.

Davis has truly been a key figure for the team, experiencing every high and low throughout his career. Some of his most impressive achievements include becoming the first UNC guard since Joseph Forte in 2000-01 to earn unanimous first-team All-America honors.

Interestingly, he now stands alongside legends like Phil Ford, Michael Jordan, Forte, and Ty Lawson as one of only five Tar Heel guards to be named ACC Player of the Year, a prestigious honor given to just 15 players in UNC history. Just like his impressive stats, Davis’s NIL value is something to be truly admired.

Davis’s NIL value of $1.4 million

R.J. Davis’ 2024 NIL deal highlights his growing influence in brand partnerships. His contracts with brands like Keurig, ZIPS Car Wash, Simple Truth, and Nerf, along with his success on the court, have helped boost his value by an impressive 45% and reach a whopping $1.4 million. With a strong social media following of 273k, Davis has been able to leverage himself to secure lucrative deals and boost brand visibility.

He actively engages in his brand partnerships, designing T-shirts for Chapel Hill Sportswear and appearing in a fun promotional video for Nerf’s MotoBlitz Elite 2.0 Blaster.

As of 2024, Davis has an estimated net worth of $1m, driven by his impressive basketball skills and rapidly growing NIL deals. As a college athlete, he keeps his salary details private due to NCAA rules. Beyond his basketball career and NIL deals, details about other potential sources of income or business ventures for Davis aren’t publicly available.

R.J. Davis has truly made his mark as an exceptional athlete, both on the court and off. With a remarkable college basketball career, countless accomplishments, and an expanding presence in the world of NIL deals, he’s well on his way to building a legacy that will be remembered at UNC and nationwide.