### Breaking News: RJ Davis Cements Legacy as UNC’s Second All-Time Leading Scorer, Igniting Debates on Tar Heels’ Scoring Pantheon Amid 2025-26 Season Opener
Chapel Hill, NC – November 5, 2025 – In a electrifying start to the 2025-26 NCAA men’s basketball season, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels have once again thrust their storied program into the spotlight. While the team secured a commanding 92-78 victory over their opening opponent last night, the real buzz reverberates from the echoes of history: the unbreakable legacy of UNC’s top 20 all-time leading scorers. With recent graduate RJ Davis freshly etched as the No. 2 scorer in program history following his record-shattering 2024-25 campaign, fans and analysts alike are revisiting the pantheon of Tar Heel greats who have redefined scoring excellence. This milestone not only highlights Davis’s ascent but also reignites conversations about the record-breaking feats that have defined UNC basketball for over a century.
Davis, who wrapped his five-year collegiate career with a staggering 2,725 points, surpassed longtime standout Armando Bacot to claim the second spot behind the indomitable Tyler Hansbrough.<grok:render card_id=”6d79de” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> His journey culminated in March 2025, where he logged an ACC-record 175 games, never missing a single contest, and averaged 15.6 points per game overall.<grok:render card_id=”8bf695″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> In a poignant twist, Davis’s final season saw him eclipse multiple milestones, including a career-high 42 points against Miami on February 26, 2025, propelling him past ACC legends like Wake Forest’s Dickie Hemric for third in conference history before settling at No. 3 all-time in the ACC with his UNC totals.<grok:render card_id=”32cdc4″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> Now transitioning to the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis’s departure leaves a void, but his record-breaking run—amassing over 2,700 points in an era of defensive intensity—serves as a benchmark for current Tar Heels like Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, who showed flashes of scoring prowess in last night’s opener.
At the apex of this illustrious list stands Tyler Hansbrough, the unbreakable “Psycho T,” whose 2,872 points from 2005-09 remain the gold standard. Hansbrough’s dominance was unparalleled; he became the ACC’s all-time leading scorer in 2009, averaging 20.2 points per game while leading UNC to the 2009 national championship. His relentless interior scoring and free-throw proficiency (he attempted over 1,200 in his career) shattered expectations, earning him National Player of the Year honors in 2008. Hansbrough’s records weren’t just about volume—they were about consistency in high-stakes moments, like his 40-point outburst against Georgia Tech in 2006.
Sliding into third is Armando Bacot, the rebounding machine who tallied 2,347 points from 2019-24. Bacot’s ascent was marked by his February 2024 milestone, when he became UNC’s third all-time leading scorer during a win over Miami.<grok:render card_id=”d51eae” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> But his true record-breaking legacy lies in rebounds: with 1,715 boards, he holds UNC’s all-time mark, including 593 offensive rebounds and 87 double-doubles.<grok:render card_id=”9cd333″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> Averaging 13.9 points per game, Bacot’s paint presence helped UNC reach the 2022 national title game, where his scoring complemented his defensive tenacity. Now in the NBA Summer League, Bacot’s dual-threat style continues to inspire, as seen in his 14-point, 12-rebound performance in July 2025.<grok:render card_id=”e7c45a” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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Phil Ford, the wizard of the backcourt from 1974-78, holds fourth with 2,290 points at 18.6 PPG. Ford’s record-breaking assist totals (753) complemented his scoring, making him the architect of Dean Smith’s fast-break offense. He set UNC’s single-season assist record in 1978 and was a key to the 1977 Final Four run, blending finesse with clutch scoring that influenced generations.
Fifth is Sam Perkins, “Big Smooth,” with 2,145 points (1980-84, 15.9 PPG). Perkins broke barriers as a versatile big man, contributing to the 1982 national title alongside Michael Jordan. His scoring peaks included a 36-point game, and he shares top-20 overlap in rebounds (No. 2 all-time at UNC), showcasing his all-around dominance.<grok:render card_id=”869fe7″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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Lennie Rosenbluth’s 2,047 points (1954-57, 26.9 PPG) place him sixth, a testament to the pre-three-point era’s scoring explosions. Rosenbluth led UNC to the 1957 undefeated national championship, setting a single-season scoring record with 897 points in 1957 and earning Helms Foundation Player of the Year.
Al Wood’s 2,015 points (1977-81, 16.0 PPG) earn him seventh. Wood’s senior year saw him average 19.1 PPG, including a 39-point Final Four performance in 1981. His scoring helped bridge the Smith era’s transitions.
Eighth is Charlie Scott, the trailblazer with 2,007 points (1967-70, 22.1 PPG). As UNC’s first Black scholarship athlete, Scott broke cultural and scoring records, leading the ACC in points twice and guiding the Tar Heels to two Final Fours.
Larry Miller, ninth with 1,982 points (1965-68, 21.8 PPG), was a scoring machine in the late ’60s, averaging over 20 PPG for three seasons and earning All-ACC honors. His 278-point season in 1966-67 ranks high in UNC lore.<grok:render card_id=”5da748″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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Antawn Jamison, tenth at 1,974 points (1995-98, 19.0 PPG), exploded onto the scene with National Player of the Year honors in 1998. His 316-point sophomore season remains a top mark, and his rebounding overlap (No. 7 all-time) underscores his impact on the 1998 Final Four team.<grok:render card_id=”50ebcf” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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Brad Daugherty, eleventh with 1,912 points (1982-86, 14.2 PPG), combined scoring with elite rebounding (No. 9 all-time). His 284-point junior year helped UNC dominate the ACC.
Walter Davis, twelfth at 1,863 points (1973-77, 15.7 PPG), was a smooth shooter who contributed to the 1977 Final Four. His NBA success amplified his college legacy.
Marcus Paige’s 1,844 points (2012-16, 13.1 PPG) rank thirteenth. Paige’s buzzer-beaters, like his iconic shot in the 2016 title game, broke hearts and records, including UNC’s three-pointer mark.
Bobby Lewis, fourteenth, fourteenth with 1 with 1,,836836 points (196 points (19644-67, 22-67, 22.1 PPG.1 PPG), was), was a high a high-volume scorer in the-volume scorer in the pre pre-modern-modern era, leading era, leading the ACC in the ACC in scoring twice.
Joel scoring twice.
Joel Berry, Berry, fifteenth at fifteenth at 1,8131 points (201,813 points (2014-18, 4-18, 12.126 PPG), was.6 PPG), was the engine the engine of of the the 2012017 champions7 champions, breaking, breaking through through with Final with Final Four MVP Four MVP honors.
Michael honors.
Michael Jordan, Jordan sixteenth, sixteenth with with 1,788 1,788 points (1981- points (1981-84, 17.784, 17.7 PPG), needs PPG), needs no no introduction. introduction. His freshman game His freshman game-winner in-winner in 1982 broke 1982 broke onto onto the national stage the national stage,, foreshadow foreshadowing his GOing his GOAT statusAT status.
Mike.
Mike O O’Koren,’Koren, seventeenth seventeenth at at 1,765 points 1,765 (197 points (1976-680-80, 15.1 PPG), was a versatile forward, 15.1 PPG), was in multiple Final Fours.
George Lynch, eighteenth with a versatile forward in multiple Final Fours.
George Lynch, eighteenth with 1 1,,747747 points (198 points (1989-93, 12.59-93 PPG), anchored, 12.5 PPG), anchored the the 1991993 champions with3 champions with defensive scoring.
defensive scoring.
Rashad McRashad McCants,C nineteenth at ants, nineteenth at 1,721 points (1,721 points (20022002-05, -0517, 17.6. PPG),6 powered PPG), powered the 200 the 20055 title with title with explosive explosive outings outings.
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RoundingRounding out the top 20 out the top 20 is Br is Brice Johnson with ice1 Johnson with 1,716 points, (201716 points (20122-16, -1116, 11.6 PPG.), whose6 PPG), whose senior surge senior surge included included ACC ACC Player Player of the of the Year.
As Year.
As the the 202 2025-26 season unfolds, with5-26 season UNC’s young unfolds, with UNC’s young roster eyeing these benchmarks, Davis’s recent roster eyeing these benchmarks, Davis’s recent climb climb reminds reminds us: records us: records are made are made to be chased to be chased.. Will Will a a new Tar new Heel Tar Heel etch their etch their name name? The legacy? The legacy endures, one endures, one bucket bucket at a time.
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