BREAKING NEWS: RJ Davis Wins 2025 Jerry West Award as Nation’s Top Shooting Guard
In a thrilling capstone to an extraordinary college career, North Carolina senior RJ Davis has been named the 2025 recipient of the Jerry West Award, given annually to the best shooting guard in men’s NCAA Division I basketball. Presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the award honors the player who most exemplifies the skill, leadership, and clutch performance of its legendary namesake, Hall of Famer Jerry West.
Davis, who returned to Chapel Hill for his senior season with unfinished business and a steely determination, delivered one of the most impressive individual campaigns in Tar Heel history. Averaging 21.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, Davis led North Carolina to an ACC regular-season title and a Final Four appearance, reigniting the fire in one of college basketball’s proudest programs.
From the season opener against Kansas, when Davis poured in 29 points in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, to his 34-point explosion against Duke in a heated rivalry showdown, Davis consistently proved himself as the emotional and tactical engine of the Tar Heels. His ability to score from all three levels—whether slicing through defenders on drives, draining deep threes, or creating space with a signature step-back jumper—made him nearly impossible to guard.
“RJ is everything the Jerry West Award stands for,” said UNC head coach Hubert Davis (no relation). “He’s resilient, selfless, and fearless when the moment demands it. He led this team not just with his voice, but with his actions every single night.”
Perhaps no performance better encapsulated Davis’s season than his Sweet 16 heroics against Arizona, where he hit the game-winning shot with 1.3 seconds remaining—an off-balance, contested three that sent the Tar Heels to the Elite Eight and instantly became a March Madness highlight reel staple.
The award, first established in 2015, has been won in recent years by NBA stars like Desmond Bane and Johnny Davis. RJ Davis now joins that elite fraternity, adding to his growing résumé as a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
The senior guard, known for his quiet confidence and meticulous work ethic, humbly accepted the award during a special presentation Thursday morning in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“It’s surreal,” Davis said. “When you grow up loving the game, watching March Madness, hearing names like Jerry West, it inspires you. I just wanted to be the best teammate and competitor I could be. This award is for everyone who believed in me, from White Plains to Chapel Hill.”
Davis becomes the first Tar Heel to win the Jerry West Award and the latest in a long line of storied Carolina guards to leave his mark on the college game. With this accolade, he cements his legacy—not just in Chapel Hill, but in the annals of college basketball history.
As the NBA Draft looms, scouts are already buzzing about Davis’s pro potential. But regardless of what’s next, one thing is certain: RJ Davis has authored a final chapter worthy of the legends.
