Several UNC men’s basketball players have been nominated for major national awards this season. Check back in here throughout the season to see who’s been nominated for what!
G R.J. Davis – Wooden Award, Jerry West Award, Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Award

Image via Dakota Moyer
R.J. Davis has cemented himself as one of the best players in college basketball this season. Through 36 games, Davis leads Carolina and ranks 13th in the nation with 21.3 points per game. He’s shooting a career-best 41.1 percent on three-pointers and recently put together a school-record streak of 23 consecutive games with multiple threes made. Now, Davis has been named to a finalist for the Jerry West Award (given to the nation’s top shooting guard), is a finalist for the Naismith Award, is on the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Award and is a Top 15 ballot nominee for the Wooden Award. The Naismith, Robertson and Wooden Awards are given to the national player of the year.
Fans voting for the West Award begins Friday, March 8. Fans can vote for Davis here.
C Armando Bacot – Wooden Award, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Award

Image via Dakota Moyer
Though Bacot’s numbers are down in his fifth and final college season, he is still one of the premier in the country. His 10.2 rebounds per game rank first in the ACC, his 1.6 blocks per game rank fourth and he is shooting a career-best 77.7 percent at the free throw line. Now, Bacot has been named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation’s best center. Fans can vote for Bacot here. He is also on the watch lists for the Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson Awards, given to the national player of the year.
F Harrison Ingram – Julius Erving Award

Image via Todd Melet
In his first season with Carolina after transferring over from Stanford, Ingram has been a revelation. His 39.5 percent mark on threes is by far a career high, but his rebounding prowess has defined his role. Ingram ranks second on the team in rebounding, including a career-high 19 at NC State. It’s the most rebounds by a Tar Heel ever against the Wolfpack. Now, Ingram has been named to the midseason watch list for the Julius Erving Award, given to the nation’s top small forward.
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 biweekly newsletter.
Related Stories
‹

UNC Men's Basketball Beats USC in Greensboro Preseason ExhibitionUNC outscored USC 51-31 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and beat the Trojans 88-70 in a preseason exhibition in Greensboro.

UNC Men's Basketball vs. USC (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off TimeUNC fans will get their first look at head coach Michael Malone’s Tar Heels Friday night when Carolina takes on USC in a preseason exhibition at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. It’s UNC’s first game of any kind in Greensboro since the 2023 ACC Tournament. If you aren’t making the trip to the game, here’s […]

Breaking Down Michael Malone's Challenge to Jarin Stevenson, UNC's Gentle GiantEarlier in the offseason, a fellow reporter and I were discussing Tar Heel senior forward Jarin Stevenson. As the team’s only returning starter and one of the only familiar faces fans can latch on to after an offseason of upheaval, he projects to be a key player for UNC in 2026-27. That prominent role, plus […]

Are They Eligible? Keeping Up with UNC's Rece Verhoff, Cameron Fens and OthersStudent-athletes across the country are currently embroiled in an eligibility fight against the NCAA. The athletes, who graduated high school in 2022, are seeking a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new rules. However, the NCAA is countering that the rule only applies to students currently in college from the 2026-27 academic year forward. […]

UNC Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 ACC ScheduleThe ACC revealed the men’s basketball league schedule for the 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. UNC’s league games begin Dec. 30 and end March 6. Mark your calendars 📅 pic.twitter.com/BXaZ7OHdJd — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2026 The Tar Heels will begin conference play by hosting Cal at the Smith Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. Carolina is […]

Michael Malone Announces Full UNC Men's Basketball Coaching StaffMichael Malone and the UNC men’s basketball program have officially announced the full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, Malone’s first as head coach of the Tar Heels. Official. pic.twitter.com/KmX5Ct793x — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 3, 2026 The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will […]

'Something Much Bigger than Myself': Highlights from Michael Malone's Sep. 3 Press ConferenceUNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape around college sports, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below: […]

UNC's Cameron Fens Now Ineligible After Tennessee Court RulingCameron Fens, a seven-foot center who transferred to UNC from South Dakota earlier in August, is now ineligible to play for the Tar Heels in the 2026-27 season after ruling from the Tennessee Court of Appeals Wednesday. The court has issued a stay on the injunction granted to several athletes – Fens included – who […]

Full 2026-27 Roster, Jersey Numbers Announced for UNC Men's BasketballThe UNC men’s basketball program has announced its full roster, complete with jersey numbers, for the 2026-27 season, the team’s first under head coach Michael Malone. The squad is set 🔒 pic.twitter.com/oQ3cJfS4iH — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) August 21, 2026 The roster features six players from the 2025-26 team: senior forward Jarin Stevenson, senior guard Jaydon Young, senior […]

The NCAA Has Won a Victory in the Class of 2022 Debate. What Does it Mean for UNC?The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit granted a stay in the case of Wisne v. NCAA, temporarily putting on hold an injunction which had allowed student-athletes from the high school class of 2022 to play a fifth collegiate season this year. This ruling means players such as UNC kicker Rece Verhoff […]
›