University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Lucas: The Torch Is Passed
December 30, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Marcus Paige was there to watch RJ Davis set an improbable record on Sunday.
By Adam Lucas
RJ Davis made 32 three-point shots during his freshman season at Carolina. That included 12 of his first 42 and 18 of his first 63.
Those 18 three-pointers came in his first 20 career games. So imagine if you'd told someone at that point that on Dec. 29, 2024, following Carolina's 97-81 victory over Campbell, Marcus Paige would present Davis with the game ball after Davis became Carolina's all-time most prolific three-point shooter.
The math wouldn't make sense, of course. You'd have to explain Covid and the NCAA and eligibility changes. But you'd also have to explain how someone who made 18 three-pointers in his first 20 games as a Tar Heel—showing no signs of eventually etching his name in the vicinity of Marcus Paige, Joel Berry, Shammond Williams and Wayne Ellington, much less on top of all of them—has now made 285 three-point shots in his last 131 games as a Tar Heel.
Sure, he's had an extra year. But keep in mind that going into this season Davis was already second on Carolina's all-time made three-point shot list, trailing only Paige. And after Sunday, he leads that category.
"The one thing I still had!" joked the humble Paige, who it must be noted has much more than just one line in a record book.
The irony is that Paige is an important part of Davis' ascension up the record book, as is the fact that Davis played for Hubert Davis. In fact, Carolina's two top three-point shooters by percentage—Hubert Davis and Jeff Lebo—are part of the Tar Heel staff that helped develop the New York native. RJ Davis is a permanent testament to the value of endless repetitions and long nights in the gym. But he also played at Carolina at the absolute perfect time for his development.
"It was a surreal moment," RJ Davis said on the Tar Heel Sports Network of the scene in the postgame locker room. "Marcus had told me in New York that I was about to pass him. That was crazy because I grew up watching him. The type of player he was, with his ability to shoot the ball, for him to pass the torch and be my coach and teach me the ways a little bit, I couldn't write a better story than that."
Paige joined the staff in the summer of 2023 and has been there for Davis' last 142 three-point shots—almost half his career total—and his ACC Player of the Year season last year.
"Since I've been here, he's gotten better at understanding that his best asset is his three and the threat of his three," Paige says. "When he hunts three-pointers he is so much better and the threat of his shooting has made him a better screener and playmaker, too."
Davis was hunting them on Sunday night. He needed two trifectas to pass Paige and promptly nailed them before the first media timeout. From there, he was on his way to what we've come to recognize as a vintage Davis performance. Five of his seven field goals were three-pointers, the ninth time in his career he's made at least five in one game.
The last one looked like the Player of the Year version, as he crossed over an unfortunate Campbell defender and swished a three from the left wing, never even appearing to consider the possibility that the shot might miss.
That's the type of confidence—and productivity—that Carolina needs from Davis, who entered the game shooting an uncharacteristic 25.5 percent from three-point range this season. Some of those misses have been the product of being the highlighted name on the opposing scouting report after his tremendous season last year. But others have been open, and Davis has admittedly placed pressure on himself to be a productive veteran leader.
It turns out that a trip home was what he needed.
"Playing at the Garden and going home and seeing my family was really good for me," Davis says. "I was able to step away a little bit. Basketball is more mental than physical, and sometimes I get stuck in my own head. I was able to take that pressure off myself and just go play basketball. I have seen the ins and outs of this game. I've seen it all…The work will even out. I was able to reset my mental approach into all positive things."
That's an area where Davis cites Paige as being especially helpful. "He's taught me to stay level headed and enjoy the process," Davis says. "Enjoy the moment, continue to lead and leave a mark."
The mark now is at the top of the record book. There is much more to do this season—Davis was very conscious, perhaps too conscious, that a couple extra made shots might have improved Carolina's nonconference record—for a team that is still aligning the rotation to maximize its potential. Seth Trimble missed Sunday's game, but Ian Jackson has 50 points in two games.
You can excuse RJ for not being exactly sure how to lead this team, an area where Hubert Davis has consistently pushed him to do more. There's never been a Tar Heel team quite like this, one that at some junctures this season has featured guards as the five most productive players.
On Sunday, with both Davis and Jackson clicking with Elliot Cadeau handing out a career-high 12 assists and Jalen Washington doing some dirty work inside, the offensive ceiling looked very high (we'll talk about defense another day). And Davis now has the record book credentials to win any argument with Carolina's guard-oriented coaching staff.
Even in the postgame locker room, Hubert Davis was kidding RJ about his status as a shooter among Hubert, Jeff Lebo and Paige.
It's a stellar quartet. "Coach Davis said he can't move and will have to do spot shots," RJ said of a potential shooting contest. But then the player showed off that same confidence that's been evident even back to the days of those rough freshman beginnings. "But I'm still taking myself."
RJ Davis made 32 three-point shots during his freshman season at Carolina. That included 12 of his first 42 and 18 of his first 63.
Those 18 three-pointers came in his first 20 career games. So imagine if you'd told someone at that point that on Dec. 29, 2024, following Carolina's 97-81 victory over Campbell, Marcus Paige would present Davis with the game ball after Davis became Carolina's all-time most prolific three-point shooter.
The math wouldn't make sense, of course. You'd have to explain Covid and the NCAA and eligibility changes. But you'd also have to explain how someone who made 18 three-pointers in his first 20 games as a Tar Heel—showing no signs of eventually etching his name in the vicinity of Marcus Paige, Joel Berry, Shammond Williams and Wayne Ellington, much less on top of all of them—has now made 285 three-point shots in his last 131 games as a Tar Heel.
Sure, he's had an extra year. But keep in mind that going into this season Davis was already second on Carolina's all-time made three-point shot list, trailing only Paige. And after Sunday, he leads that category.
"The one thing I still had!" joked the humble Paige, who it must be noted has much more than just one line in a record book.
The irony is that Paige is an important part of Davis' ascension up the record book, as is the fact that Davis played for Hubert Davis. In fact, Carolina's two top three-point shooters by percentage—Hubert Davis and Jeff Lebo—are part of the Tar Heel staff that helped develop the New York native. RJ Davis is a permanent testament to the value of endless repetitions and long nights in the gym. But he also played at Carolina at the absolute perfect time for his development.
"It was a surreal moment," RJ Davis said on the Tar Heel Sports Network of the scene in the postgame locker room. "Marcus had told me in New York that I was about to pass him. That was crazy because I grew up watching him. The type of player he was, with his ability to shoot the ball, for him to pass the torch and be my coach and teach me the ways a little bit, I couldn't write a better story than that."
Paige joined the staff in the summer of 2023 and has been there for Davis' last 142 three-point shots—almost half his career total—and his ACC Player of the Year season last year.
"Since I've been here, he's gotten better at understanding that his best asset is his three and the threat of his three," Paige says. "When he hunts three-pointers he is so much better and the threat of his shooting has made him a better screener and playmaker, too."
Davis was hunting them on Sunday night. He needed two trifectas to pass Paige and promptly nailed them before the first media timeout. From there, he was on his way to what we've come to recognize as a vintage Davis performance. Five of his seven field goals were three-pointers, the ninth time in his career he's made at least five in one game.
The last one looked like the Player of the Year version, as he crossed over an unfortunate Campbell defender and swished a three from the left wing, never even appearing to consider the possibility that the shot might miss.
That's the type of confidence—and productivity—that Carolina needs from Davis, who entered the game shooting an uncharacteristic 25.5 percent from three-point range this season. Some of those misses have been the product of being the highlighted name on the opposing scouting report after his tremendous season last year. But others have been open, and Davis has admittedly placed pressure on himself to be a productive veteran leader.
It turns out that a trip home was what he needed.
"Playing at the Garden and going home and seeing my family was really good for me," Davis says. "I was able to step away a little bit. Basketball is more mental than physical, and sometimes I get stuck in my own head. I was able to take that pressure off myself and just go play basketball. I have seen the ins and outs of this game. I've seen it all…The work will even out. I was able to reset my mental approach into all positive things."
That's an area where Davis cites Paige as being especially helpful. "He's taught me to stay level headed and enjoy the process," Davis says. "Enjoy the moment, continue to lead and leave a mark."
The mark now is at the top of the record book. There is much more to do this season—Davis was very conscious, perhaps too conscious, that a couple extra made shots might have improved Carolina's nonconference record—for a team that is still aligning the rotation to maximize its potential. Seth Trimble missed Sunday's game, but Ian Jackson has 50 points in two games.
You can excuse RJ for not being exactly sure how to lead this team, an area where Hubert Davis has consistently pushed him to do more. There's never been a Tar Heel team quite like this, one that at some junctures this season has featured guards as the five most productive players.
On Sunday, with both Davis and Jackson clicking with Elliot Cadeau handing out a career-high 12 assists and Jalen Washington doing some dirty work inside, the offensive ceiling looked very high (we'll talk about defense another day). And Davis now has the record book credentials to win any argument with Carolina's guard-oriented coaching staff.
Even in the postgame locker room, Hubert Davis was kidding RJ about his status as a shooter among Hubert, Jeff Lebo and Paige.
It's a stellar quartet. "Coach Davis said he can't move and will have to do spot shots," RJ said of a potential shooting contest. But then the player showed off that same confidence that's been evident even back to the days of those rough freshman beginnings. "But I'm still taking myself."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballCarolina Insider - Football Signing Day Discussion (Full Segment) - December 5, 2025
Friday, December 05
Carolina Insider - Men's Basketball vs. Georgetown Preview (Full Segment) - December 5, 2025
Friday, December 05
Carolina Insider - Interview with Jimmy Black (Full Segment) - December 5, 2025
Friday, December 05
WBB: Post-Texas Press Conference - December 4, 2025
Friday, December 05