R.J. Davis is headed out west.

The former UNC All-American, who spent five memorable seasons in Chapel Hill, signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers late Thursday night.

Davis is UNC’s all-time leader in both three-pointers made (359) and three-pointers attempted (977), while his career three-point percentage of 36.7 ranks third in program history, behind only Marcus Paige and Rashad McCants. Davis is also UNC’s all-time leading free throw shooter, with his career mark of 86.1 percent nearly three percentage points higher than second place.

Davis played a key role on UNC’s 2021-22 team which reached the national title game, as the then-sophomore started all 39 games. He scored 21 points in an upset win against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game with the Blue Devils, then scored a then-career-high 30 against No. 1 seed Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, helping the Tar Heels spring another upset on their way to the Sweet 16. In another matchup against Duke in the Final Four, Davis scored 18 more points in an 81-77 win.

The 2023-24 season catapulted Davis into stardom. The senior achieved career highs in points per game (21.2) and three-point percentage (39.8 percent) while leading the Tar Heels to an ACC regular-season title. That season saw Davis set a new career high with 42 points against Miami in February, a performance which also set a new record for points by a Tar Heel in the Dean Smith Center.

Davis hauled in numerous national awards, including the Jerry West Award for the nation’s top shooting guard. He was named the ACC Player of the Year and a unanimous first team All-American, securing a spot for his No. 4 jersey in the rafters of the Smith Center.

Davis leaves UNC having played in a program-record 175 games. He never missed a single contest during his collegiate career.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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.

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: New 'Agent' Man
Jim Tanner, the new GM of UNC men's basketball, is another alumnus who has joined the program and just what Hubert Davis said he wanted.
UNC Men's Basketball Has Played a Game in 40 of 50 States. Here's How It Can Fill Out the Map.
Few programs in men’s college basketball are as historically well-traveled as UNC. Throughout their more-than-century on the hardwood, the Tar Heels have traveled the length and breadth of the country, from a cozy community center in Hickory to the cavernous Ford Field in Detroit. There are other odd confines which are on record as having […]
'This University Means Everything to Me': UNC's Seth Trimble is Ready for His Senior Moment
UNC's Seth Trimble is confident his ability to lead will help the new-look Tar Heels have a successful season.
UNC Men's Basketball's Blue-White Game Scheduled for October 4
The UNC men’s basketball team will host its annual Blue-White scrimmage in the Dean Smith Center on Saturday, October 4. The game will begin approximately one hour after the conclusion of the UNC vs. Clemson football game, which kicks off at 12 p.m. in Kenan Stadium. 🚨 Blue-White Scrimmage is official 🚨 🗓️ Saturday, October […]
Chansky's Notebook: 'Super' Seth
As UNC's one returning starter and captain of the 2025-26 team, Seth Trimble is helping integrate nine new players into the system.
Chansky's Notebook: The New Big
UNC's brand landed Arizona's Henri Veesaar out of the transfer portal, with a little help from a former Tar Heel star.
Full 2025-26 ACC Schedule Announced for UNC Men's Basketball
Carolina now knows its full 2025-26 season schedule, as the ACC announced the full slate of conference games Tuesday afternoon. Conference schedule is set 🗓️ 🔗 https://t.co/LOJXx1ELdQ pic.twitter.com/ZJ3mNlvJRU — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2025 The conference schedule begins either December 30 or 31, when UNC hosts Florida State at the Dean Smith Center. […]
Chansky's Notebook: Who Are These Guys?
NC State and UNC are like ships in the night when it comes to ESPN's preseason men's college basketball rankings.
READ: Hubert Davis Talks Pressure at UNC, Caleb Wilson, Luka Bogavac and More
UNC men’s basketball head coach Hubert Davis met with the media for the first time since the end of the 2024-25 season Tuesday at the Dean Smith Center. Davis discussed multiple topics, including pressure to win this season and star freshman Caleb Wilson. Read some of Davis’ answers below, which have been lightly edited for […]
Roy Williams to Receive North Carolina Award for Public Service
Former UNC men’s basketball head coach Roy Williams was named as one of six winners of the North Carolina Award earlier this week. Governor Josh Stein will present the award to Williams and the other five honorees Thursday, November 13 at the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville. The ceremony is normally held in Raleigh, […]
›