North Carolina
RJ Davis: It took me like two days to actually understand what happened
RJ Davis reflects on his record night vs. Miami and speaks to the media ahead of a matchup with NC State.
All right, you don't have to, we go to Androgel. How, how many people did you hear from you after that? I'm curious about what the reaction in your circles, why they do that? I mean a lot um like, not even just from uh obviously messages a lot, but then when you have like Instagram and like tiktok and a bunch of um you get a lot of like ads and mentions on Instagram and tiktok, like it was too much. I couldn't even go through. But uh as far as like my messages, it was mainly just like close friends and family members that congratulated me. Um So, but um it's crazy because I turned my phone off before every game. So as soon as I turned my phone on, it was just like a bunch of notifications and I was just scrolling through and trying to get back to everybody. But as you look back on that sort of how do you process it? What goes through your mind about that? Like you remember everything specifically or Yeah, I mean, black out because you're in the zone. Yeah, I was talking to Harrison. I literally right after the game. He's like, how do you feel? And I'm like, normal, fine, good. He's like, bro, you just had 42 and I don't, at the time, like, I don't think it really hit me. Like, I don't think I really, uh noticed like, what I've done and what I did, um, because I was just like in the flow of the game and, um, looking back on it, I actually like, I think, like, it took me about two days to actually understand like what actually happened. Um I, I don't, I think I gave myself enough credit sometimes. I think I'm always just, you know, hard on myself and, uh I feel like I've always done more, but I had to give myself a pat on the back for that just because of, um you know, how the game was going on and what I did individually RJ, when Hubert was recruiting, you, did he give you a Roid when, when they were recruiting, you, did they give you any examples of UN C Guards past or present? They thought you could be like, and emulate. And did you watch those guys on youtube? Like after talking with? Yeah, I mean, even before they recruited me, I had an idea and understanding what UN C was and how they played. Uh because I was, um I think I was like a freshman or maybe eighth grade when Marcus was here. So I watched their run with him. And Joe in the backcourt and uh when Kobe was here and Kobe, which I knew, well, I knew since I was in eighth grade. So I had an understanding of how they played two guards together. Um, and, you know, their main message was, um, they, they didn't tell me I was gonna be like Marcus or be like Joe's more so just be RJ and I'm gonna have the opportunity to play here. Then they said I was gonna start. It was more about just we're gonna give you the opportunities I take advantage of that. Couldn't go through all the things around you. Yeah, I did 100% uh especially with messages, but I don't like to leave people undelivered. So uh I respond to uh majority of everyone on messages but like Instagram D MS, no thing that someone said reached out or, or some kind of me that wasn't so associated with the program or your family. Um That's a good question. Uh I had someone send me so I had someone like um like one of my friends sent me a picture like when I was like a little kid and then uh which is like when I was like, like third grade. So I had like a little caesar ball fad and then um that this is one I wo goggles and then um yeah, yeah, I don't know about that. I used to wear goggles back in the day and I thought that was funny and then put like 42 points. I said, but I don't want to put myself out there. So if y'all find it, I'll find it. I'm not gonna do it myself. Rob had one. Did you see the one B Rob had? No, I didn't see that one. It was, I think it was high school or? Yeah, I saw a lot of the high school ones too. So, but yeah, if y'all find me with the CS are fade and that's, yeah, I'm not so much. You said what Harrison said? I imagine Armada had something interesting. He was like, bro, you're insane. What are the most sports you ever scored in a game in college or just in my whole career? Uh I think I have either 41 or 43 in, in high school. So, yeah, but college is like, that's elite because it's hard to do that when the goggles come off. Uh Right. So I wanna say 7th, 8th grade. So II I wore glasses like from like my whole life up until up until seventh grade and I was just like, I'm not wearing them like glasses anymore. So I was just literally just stopped wearing them and then I think like my eyesight just got better a little bit. So I haven't wore them since or was it? Yeah, more like a cool factor. I think I was, you know, going to my middle school age. So I was, like, getting into fashion more. I just, like, just tired of wearing, like, goggles when I play basketball or something. Like, I'm definitely not wearing these anymore. No. Yeah, I'm fine. I can see the goggles were corrected. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I have, like, so, like, one of my friends, he's like a big brother to me, he's like, I should bring back the goggles, like, for seeing that I was like, like there was like little rex specs and I was like, there's definitely no way I'm bringing those back is the red fuzzy or was it? But I, if I do bring a bag, it will be like foggy, like the rex packs. So I, but I mean, it has been a thought like this year if I bring that bag, but I don't think anyone would get the reference. But if I did y'all do now, yeah. Well, he normally has the three goggles a lot. So there you go there, I guess. Um You know, when you're in, I guess a season or even in a game, like you were the other day, you don't like, I guess, recognize things like this but it, the 42 puts you 5% and you would, I think the UN C scoring this, uh I guess, like, do you ever like on your own? Um, you know, four years into your career, like, even think about your place within, I guess, like, you know, the UN C program, like, you all the different types of places. Obviously, there's been a lot of, you know, different numbers and stats from that game. But, like, do you ever just sit and think about just even that? Yeah, I mean, just even as a freshman, I never really will pitch myself, like, within, you know, these conversations of, like, you know, being top 10 going here, especially here. Like, to me that's insane. Um I'm speechless from that but uh but I did one thing I did think about going to my senior was what type of legacy I'm gonna leave behind. Um And like kind of like, you know, how my senior to go and I think I really took control of that in terms of just like my mental and just being overly confident and focused um in every game and every practice of preparing myself for these moments, preparing myself for these games in order for me to uh have a great senior year. So, um and for me just to be in this conversation amongst the, you know, the great players that play here. I mean, that's just I'm just, you know, grateful just uh super fortunate to be in that here a couple of minutes ago. He was saying that what you've done is more the normal route of, you know, going to a school saying four years developing within those four years. What are some of, I mean, obviously, the the basketball we kind of see that but I guess for you personally, individually how do you feel you're, how different, how do you feel you're different from, I guess, the first year, year all the way. Yeah. I mean, I think I'm, uh, in all aspects and all categories, like, extremely different and I love my journey of how I started and how it's going from freshman year until now. Um, I've grown in and not just like as a, a player, but just as a person here. Um I'm more mature, I'm, I'm wise, I see things. Um And then this place has allowed me uh to kind of just step out of my comfort zone a little bit and just kind of showcase my personality more. And um you know, just on the core, it just, it just my pro progression throughout my years from freshman to sophomore to junior and now senior year, I'm just extremely, just proud of myself of, you know, how I started and you know, what I had to go through and, and deal with and just the trials and tribulations. Um I'm just proud of my career. I'll never compare my career and myself to anyone else because you know, everyone's story, everyone's journey is different. So, um how things are going for me. I'm just proud how uh Een just took it from the step Hubert said, you guys are. Hubert said you guys are still playing desperate, but I understand the mindset, but NC State is like, really desperate, they don't win this. They probably have to win the whole AC C tournament to get in the NCAA. So how do you guys kind of match that actual mentality on the floor? I mean, we just got to be prepared. You know, NC State is a really good team and, um, our main, our mindset is always the next game and just take it one game at a time. So our mentality has a state a since we had since the beginning of the year. And um we just got to defend home court and go out and play Carolina basketball, play together and just um just give it all was, how was the film study from the Miami game? Heer said it was very productive in his words, what, what did you guys go over and what would you be able to avoid that? Um Just to see how like the last four minutes, how the, how that went? I mean, that was like, it kind of gave me flashbacks like how Bela was a little bit, uh just in terms of how much we were up and how we could have extended the lead and we had some slip ups or whatnot. But I think that's something that we can learn from. Um And we put ourselves in a good position that game, uh just do a better job of closing out the games a little bit better. Um So I think that film was good for us because it allowed us to grow and allow us to see where we made mistakes at. So when that happens in March, we don't make those mistakes again. Three bucks, Adam Andrew RJ, there are two home games left for the Un CT Tios this season, uh tomorrow and then Tuesday, are you approaching these two home games as if they'll be your last? Because obviously you could come back next year if you want to. Uh I haven't really thought about it. Um Just saying that just like hearing you say that loud, it kind of just crazy. So like for me being a senior and kind of just went by like super fast in the blink of an eye. Um But, you know, I'm definitely gonna just approach these last two home games as it's like, you know, with the same mindset I've had since the start of the season and since the start of freshman year just to win them and to get my all. Um and just come out with the win at the result of it. That's all that matters to me. So that's my approach and I'm not thinking about if it's gonna be my last two home games here at a tar heel, um, just wanna face now. So how much is your improvement on your step back? I been in the process of recognizing when to drive, when to step back and how much does your ability to drive how to help you have that avenue to step back and you like what you did in that it has been a big adjustment for me just in terms of, um, knowing where the defender is and knowing I'm gonna step back. Uh, if you asked me two years ago, my sophomore will I be able to do that? I'll probably tell you now. Uh, but just my ability just to create space and um find a shot where I'm comfortable with um and practice it, you know, repetitively that's a shot that I work on every day and either going right or going left. So I'm comfortable in those type of situations and um have the confidence, knock it down. So my improvement from uh just for that move in general just is more so just getting the feel and being more natural with the second part real quick. Is that um how much of this film work watching a film? Oh, I could have done this step back then or I should have driven that. How much is film work playing to helping you recognize a big part? I mean, just because you could watch film and see if you could have done the move a little bit better or see if you could have a counter to it. And um so I watched a lot of films just like in the move. But also I think a lot of like Kemba Walker. Um A lot of that, he, he did a lot of like snatches back and leaves with the Hornets and he's a uconn. And um so that did a lot of film work with Tima myself. And Kemba are. What's the story behind your own nickname, Milkman? Milkman. Uh I was in the, uh the Bronx um playing the local tournament. Uh this guy named Jimmy Machine, his name is Shane and I was out there just getting buckets. So, uh I just remember him on the mic just calling me milkman. He was an N one guy, right, Shane to Dr Yeah, he was, but I was always delivering. So, ok, so you're coming back then? I got it. What?