In a recent appearance on the Run Your Race podcast, North Carolina star guard RJ Davis revealed that the University of North Carolina (UNC) was not his childhood dream school. Growing up in White Plains, New York, Davis aspired to play for the University of Connecticut (UConn), a program he admired during his youth. However, despite his interest, UConn never extended him a scholarship offer.
“I was a New York kid, so I grew up watching the Big East. UConn was my dream school growing up,” Davis shared during the interview. When asked if he ever received an offer from UConn, he responded, “Nah, never got the offer.”
Davis’s journey to UNC wasn’t straightforward. He initially doubted whether the Tar Heels were interested in him. “I’m like, ‘I don’t think they’re going to give me the offer. I don’t think they really f**k with me, for real,'” he recalled. It wasn’t until a standout 35-point performance at the Peach Jam tournament that he caught the attention of UNC coaches Roy Williams and Hubert Davis. Following that game, Coach Williams extended a scholarship offer, which Davis eagerly accepted.
Davis went on to have a remarkable five-year career at UNC, culminating in a senior season where he averaged 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. His performance earned him the ACC Player of the Year award and a spot as a consensus first-team All-American.
As Davis prepares for the upcoming NBA Draft, his story underscores the unpredictability of college recruitment and how unforeseen opportunities can lead to significant success.
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