By Pat Welter

RJ Davis came back for a fifth season at UNC to accomplish many of the goals you’d expect.

“National championship,” Davis said to Andrew Kolancinski inside UNC Children’s Hospital. “Repeat first team All-American again.”

Having conversations with people like Kolacinski was part of the equation too.

“It’s awesome,” Kolacinski said. “It gives them a chance to get out of their room and meet and greet.”

Davis is playing kitchen and Barbie with Kolacinski’s daughter Kasyn, who has been in the hospital following a procedure.

“Which one you want to put in out of all of them?” Davis asked Kasyn as he pointed at a row of Barbies and a Barbie car. “Okay we will put her in.”

We knew Davis could cook on the court, but not quite like this.

“You want to clean the pan?” Davis said as he pretended to spray a plastic dish with water.

Davis is meeting patients and their families at the hospital as part of his NIL partnership Me Fine.

“It makes me feel good, not only that I’m doing something with myself, but with the legacy I’ve built here at North Carolina,” Davis said.

Like his fellow fifth year teammate before him, Armando Bacot, Davis is now UNC basketball’s ambassador for the non-profit. Me Fine offers emotional and financial support for children and their families at North Carolina partner hospitals.

“[Bacot] is no longer here, so [I’m] fulfilling that ride and doing it in my own way,” Davis said. “Me Fine is a great organization and partnership that I’m super fortunate and blessed to be a part of.”

Patients like Kasyn are taking a break from their treatment to meet Davis in the play atrium at UNC Children’s Hospital.

“I like your Crocs!” Davis said as a new patient entered the room wearing a UNC hat. “You came prepared with your own sharpie.”

Davis signs a ball for the patient and his hat.

“Lot of great children and families I’ve met today,” Davis said. “Just to hear their stories and interact with them, put myself in their shoes a little bit.”

It’s been an off season of reflection for Davis after the Tar Heels came off a heartbreaking loss to Alabama in the Sweet 16. Returning for a fifth season wasn’t a decision he took lightly.

“Definitely a tough decision, that’s why I took as much time as needed,” Davis said. “More so what I felt was needed for myself to become the best player that I want to be in order to reach the next level. I wanted to look back at myself and ask myself ‘what did I want my legacy to look like?’

Davis NIL agreement with Me Fine gave RJ a way to give back locally, nationally he is one of the most marketable players in college basketball.  The ability to profit off name, image, and likeness has changed the equation for athletes like Bacot and now Davis when considering staying in school versus leaving for a career in the NBA.

“The good thing about NIL is that it has allowed a lot of athletes across the world to benefit off their name, image and likeness,” Davis said. “Not only just for the money, but for things they may like. I think it also showcases not only them as an athlete, but who they are as a person. Being able to expand on that and take advantage of that I think has been a huge help throughout these past few years.”

According to Davis’ marketing agent Daniel Hennes, Davis is working with dozens of brands even in the off season.

“RJ’s focus is basketball,” Hennes said. “Because of that he’s in a really good position to be marketable.”

The dynamic on the UNC roster will be different for Davis and Carolina this season. The Tar Heels welcomed the 8th ranked freshman recruiting class (via 247 sports) in Ian Jackson, Drake Powell and James Brown. They also added transfers Ven Allen-Lubin from Vanderbilt and Cade Tyson from Belmont.

“I was really impressed by the freshman and newcomers we have this year,” Davis said. “I think a lot of Tar Heel fans will be really excited of what’s to come.”

Elliot Cadeau, Seth Trimble, Jalen Washington, Zayden High and Jae’lyn Withers highlight some of Carolina’s key returners.

“It’s different one hundred percent,” Davis laughed. “Last year I had Armando and Cormac [Ryan], who is like thirty years old, and then you had other older guys. For me, it’s just me and Jae’lyn Withers, the two old heads on the team. It’s something I’ve got to get used to, I definitely embrace the old role. My first four years I was the younger, immature guy, but as my years progressed I became more mature, became more of a leader.”

“You want me to shoot?” Davis asked Kasyn as she handed him a basketball. “Okay I’ll shoot.”

Davis sinks the shot on the plastic hoop, a preview of many more buckets to come this season.

“I felt like I had some unfinished business in terms of winning a national championship and not leaving this university,” Davis said. “It’s a hard place to leave, North Carolina is in my heart, so why not for a fifth year. It’s my last year and I’m going to make it my best year.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com