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Carolina has already set a precedent when it comes to R.J. Davis.
We are waiting patiently (maybe with bated breath) about Davis’ future plans: will the reigning ACC Player of the Year and consensus All-American take his fifth “COVID” season and return to UNC, a la Armando Bacot and Leaky Black?
Hubert Davis has been meeting with his players, and the head coach keeps all of that confidential until decisions are made. But Tar Heel fans are already comparing the situation with that of football star Drake Maye.
Yes, it is another sport, and COVID did not come into play with Maye, who elected to remain at UNC for his third year (and second active season) amid reports that some major universities were waving hundreds of thousands (millions?) of dollars at Maye to transfer with an NIL bonus.
R.J. Davis has a separate set of circumstances. He arrived as part of the highly-touted freshman class of 2020 and played alongside Caleb Love in mostly empty gyms during the COVID-affected 2021 season. While entrenched as a starter, Davis entered his senior year without All-ACC preseason recognition, but was so good that he gradually became a national name.
Maye has a different, if not more distinguished, relationship with UNC. Father Mark Maye starred for Dick Crum teams in the 1980s; his mother met Mark when they were students in Chapel Hill. Two older brothers, Luke an-All ACC star and Beau a walk-on, were Carolina basketball athletes. He professed love for his school and even as ACC Player of the Year as a freshman maintained he would not consider NIL offers from other universities.
Still, some wealthy alumni wanted to show their appreciation toward Maye and his family and came up with a $1 million-plus NIL payment as a gesture of goodwill for staying. After another great season as a sophomore, Maye opted out of the bowl game and declared for the NFL draft.
Will Carolina, or prominent alumni, do the same for R.J. Davis as he decides between turning pro and/or receiving feelers from other schools that can pay athletes six or seven figures to enter the portal and sign with one of them?
The 6-foot Davis does not have the same prospects as a future pro and would likely have to make an NBA team as a free agent. But he has already proven his superstardom on the college level.
So will he take the guaranteed money from another school or decide to play professionally here or in Europe? Even with many NCAA rosters in flux heading into next season, the most college cash may be his best bet.
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
RJ STAYS…CAROLINA BLUE DREAMS STILLS