BREAKING NEWS: North Carolina’s RJ Davis Wins 2025 Jerry West Award as Nation’s Top Shooting Guard…..
Springfield, MA — July 5, 2025 — North Carolina senior RJ Davis has been named the recipient of the 2025 Jerry West Award, a prestigious honor presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top shooting guard in men’s college basketball. The announcement marks a fitting culmination to an extraordinary collegiate career for Davis, who has been a consistent leader and offensive force for the Tar Heels throughout his four seasons.
The Jerry West Award, which is named after NBA legend and Hall of Famer Jerry West, recognizes the best shooting guard in the nation based on performance, leadership, and contribution to team success. Davis earned the honor through a dominant 2024–25 season, in which he averaged 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He also shot over 46% from the field and connected on more than 41% of his three-point attempts, emerging as one of the most dangerous perimeter threats in the country.
“RJ Davis represents everything this award stands for,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “He has shown tremendous skill, heart, and leadership throughout his college career. He’s not only a great player, but a great ambassador for the game of basketball.”
Davis, a native of White Plains, New York, has been the heart and soul of North Carolina basketball over the last two seasons. Known for his toughness, scoring ability, and basketball IQ, he took a major leap in his senior year, carrying the Tar Heels to a top-10 national ranking and a strong showing in both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. His leadership on and off the court helped galvanize a team filled with both young talent and experienced veterans.
One of Davis’ most memorable performances came during a key rivalry game against Duke, where he poured in 34 points and added 6 assists, leading North Carolina to a critical win on the road. He followed that up with clutch performances in the ACC Tournament and helped guide UNC to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, solidifying his place as one of the top players in the country.
“RJ is everything you want in a student-athlete,” said UNC head coach Hubert Davis. “His work ethic, dedication, and passion for the game are unmatched. He has earned this recognition, and we couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a Tar Heel legend.”
The Jerry West Award is one of five positional awards handed out each year as part of the Naismith Starting Five, which also includes honors for the top point guard (Bob Cousy Award), small forward (Julius Erving Award), power forward (Karl Malone Award), and center (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award). Davis joins an elite group of past recipients and becomes the second North Carolina player to win a Starting Five Award in the past decade.
In his acceptance speech, Davis thanked his family, teammates, coaches, and the UNC fan base for their unwavering support. “Winning the Jerry West Award is a dream come true,” Davis said. “It’s the result of years of hard work and the incredible support I’ve received from everyone around me. I’m proud to represent North Carolina and to have played my heart out for this program.”
As Davis now turns his attention toward the 2025 NBA Draft, his collegiate legacy is firmly established. Whether or not he hears his name called in the first round, his impact at North Carolina — and on college basketball as a whole — will be remembered for years to come.
For Tar Heel fans, the 2025 Jerry West Award is not just a win for RJ Davis — it’s a tribute to a player who embodied the Carolina way.