Seth Trimble shares emotional response to what he has learned from RJ Davis

The North Carolina Tar Heels got knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round after having made it past the First Four round. With the loss, longtime Tar Heel RJ Davis saw his college career come to an end.

Following the game, while sitting next to Davis, Seth Trimble was asked how Davis has been a mentor to him during his time in Chapel Hill. This led to an emotional response, where Trimble shared what it meant to him to have someone who took him in and helped him to grow as a player.

“I’ve learned so much from RJ,” Seth Trimble said. “The second I stepped on campus, he was there. I asked him, ‘Hey, can we workout in the summer?’ I mean, basically, I asked, ‘Can I follow you? Can I do everything that you do?'”

RJ Davis first came to North Carolina in 2020 and would go on to play five seasons with the Tar Heels. That included being named an All-American and the ACC Player of the Year in 2024. He also, in 175 career games, scored 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. That included a career shooting percentage of 41.8 percent from the field.

Seth Trimble would come to North Carolina as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, according to the On3 Industry Rating. The former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball had massive expectations to live up to and has faced adversity at times, but in a season where he averaged 11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game he can point to the mentorship from RJ Davis as being key for his growth.

“I’m fortunate enough for him to accept me at such an early time and just share with me all the knowledge he’s shared over the years. I mean, I’ve learned how to be a better leader.” Trimble said, becoming visibly emotional. “I’ve learned how to be a more confident basketball player. I’ve learned a whole lot from RJ. Real fortunate for it.”

The 71-64 loss to Ole Miss was the last game for Davis in his phenomenal college career. In his final game, he finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists in 37 minutes of playing time. That led the entire North Carolina team in scoring.

Next season will be the fourth for Seth Trimble in college. He’s now a veteran and has the opportunity to step into a similar leadership role, mentoring the next wave of young Tar Heels players.