RJ Davis Named Naismith Trophy Finalist

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina guard RJ Davis, the 2023-24 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, is among four finalists nationally for the 2024 Naismith Trophy, vying to earn the trophy that symbolizes the most outstanding player in college basketball.

Davis could become the fourth Tar Heel to win the Naismith Trophy after Tyler Hansbrough (2008), Antwan Jamison (1998) and Michael Jordan (1984).

Purdue's Zach Edey, Tennessee's Dalton Knecht and Houston's Jamal Shead are the other three finalists.

About the Jersey Mike's Naismith Men's Player of the Year Finalists:

RJ Davis, North Carolina

Consensus first-team All-America and the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year.
Leads the ACC in scoring, averaging 21.4 points per game. Has the fourth-most points (768) by a Tar Heel in a single season.
Entering the NCAA West Regional, he has made 113 3-point field goals, the most in a season in UNC history. He is also the only Tar Heel to average more than three 3-point field goals per game.
Surpassed 2,000 career points and is the fifth-leading scorer (second among Tar Heel guards) in UNC history.
Four-time National and ACC Player of the Week during the season.

Zach Edey, Purdue

He was named the Big Ten's Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, becoming only the fourth player in conference history to accomplish this feat.
For the second consecutive year, led the conference in scoring (24.4), rebounding (11.7) and field goal percentage (61.9%)
He has become the first player in NCAA history to record at least 800 points, 375 rebounds, 70 blocks, and 65 assists in a season.
Became Purdue's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Rick Mount, who held the record for 54 years. He enters the NCAA Tournament with 2,339 career points.
He is also the school's all-time leading rebounder with 1,234.
Finalist for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year.

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee

Southeastern Conference's Player of the Year, becoming the 10th Volunteer to win the award.
Fourth consensus First Team All-American in UT history
Among the Top 15 scorers in the nation, averaging 21.2 points per game.
He became the second Tennessee player with five 35+ point games in a season (Ernie Grunfeld (1975-76).
Averaging 25.5 points per game in conference play, he achieved the second-highest scoring average in the SEC over the past 22 years. This marked the highest conference scoring average among all Division I players during the 2023-24 season.
His 717 points in the regular season are tie-3rd on Tennessee's all-time single-season scoring list.

Jamal Shead, Houston

He became the first player in Big 12 history to be named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
The only player in the nation to rank among the top 20 individual leaders in assists per game (6.2, 17th), steals per game (2.26, 16th), and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.15, 17th) through games of March 17.
Earlier this season, he became the only player in school history to record 100+ wins, 1,100 points, 600+ assists, and 200+ steals in his career.
Twice named the Big 12's Player of the Week in 2023-24.
Finalist for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year.

 The 2024 Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year announcement will occur on Sunday, April 7, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in Phoenix.

Players Mentioned

RJ Davis

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