As R.J. Davis continues his outstanding 2023-24 season for Carolina, many fans are clamoring to see his jersey enshrined in the Dean Smith Center rafters. Davis hasn’t clinched that honor yet, but that could change after the end of the regular season.
The men’s basketball program has several criteria for how a player can have his jersey honored:
MVP (as voted on by teammates) of a national title-winning team
After every season, championship or not, the team comes together for postseason meetings and celebrations. One of the items on the agenda at these meetings are voting for the team MVP. George Lynch was named team MVP of the 1993 championship-winning team, meaning his jersey hangs from the rafters.
Member of an Olympic gold medal-winning team
Players who win an Olympic gold medal with Team USA (or any other country) are eligible to have their jerseys honored.
First- or second-team All-America
One of the most common criteria to be met for an honored jersey, Carolina has a rich history of All-Americans. Some of the most recent honorees are Brice Johnson (first team in 2016) and Marcus Paige (second team in 2014).
ACC Player of the Year
A total of 15 Tar Heels have been named ACC Players of the Year, which is second only to Duke in the history of the conference. The most recent winners are Justin Jackson in 2017 and Tyler Zeller in 2012.
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
One of the most difficult criteria to meet, only five Tar Heels have ever been named MOP: James Worthy, Donald Williams, Sean May, Wayne Ellington and Joel Berry. Oddly enough, in 1957, when Carolina won the national title, Wilt Chamberlain of Kansas was named MOP.
Davis is seen as the favorite for ACC Player of the Year and a likely first or second-team All-American, which would qualify him for the rafters twice over. And while it’s unlikely Davis will win any National Player of the Year honors over Purdue’s Zach Edey, he could qualify to have his No. 4 jersey retired if he wins that honor from one of these outlets:
- Associated Press
- National Association of Basketball Coaches
- Sporting News
- John R. Wooden Award
- Oscar Robertson Trophy
- Naismith College Player of the Year
As of February 2024, the most recent jerseys to be honored in the rafters are Joel Berry’s and Justin Jackson’s. Berry was honored for winning Final Four Most Outstanding Player during the 2017 championship run, while Jackson won ACC Player of the Year that same season.
Featured image via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins
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