One of the biggest surprises this offseason (in a good way) was Isaiah Denis's return to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season.
The former four-star recruit didn't play much during his true freshman season, logging 34 minutes over 10 games, because of an injury he initially suffered during his senior year of high school and re-aggravated during summer workouts ahead of his first year.
While the common trend for guys in similar situations (especially with a coaching change on campus) is to bolt for another destination and seek a more defined role elsewhere, However, Denis didn't take the easy way out, returning to UNC to prove that he can be a key contributor for Michael Malone's team moving forward.
Tar Heel fans are going to love what Denis had to say while speaking to the media this week.
Isaiah Denis' mentality is one that Tar Heel fans will absolutely love
Denis was one of three Tar Heels to speak to the media during an availability session this week, as the 6-foot-5 sophomore answered a variety of questions from those in attendance.
One of the topics covered was how he handled his situation a season ago. With limited minutes available for him, Denis approached everyday with the same mindset, looking to use his opportunities in practice to improve upon his craft:
“Once I found out there wasn’t a role for me to get into and I wasn’t getting much playing time, I took the practices like games and tried to better myself each and every day in practice,” Denis said. “Try to get better each and every day. That was my goal all last year, and I feel like I completed that goal, and it’s helped me to be the player I am now, and it’s going to continue to help me as long as I keep practicing like the games and taking everything seriously.”
Denis did enter the transfer portal to test the waters, but all roads led him back to Chapel Hill. He cites the trust that Michael Malone showed in him as a major reason why he returned, as the new head coach of the Tar Heels put together a strong pitch that encouraged him to stick around.
“If I go in and put the work in, there should be no reason why I shouldn’t be playing,” Denis said of Malone's recruiting pitch to him. “It made me feel comfortable, and I also love his playing style. I feel like I can play in his playing style, playing up and down.”
Now, the tide has turned, and Denis is expected to play a significant role on this year's team. He is viewed as a combo guard but has been primarily used as a point guard throughout summer work outs and the early portion of training camp, a sign that Malone and his staff are very confident in putting the basketball in his hands.
There are a few factors that played a role in Denis' limited usage a season ago. You can make the case that Denis should've been utilized more to help him gain some valuable experience along the way. However, that didn't happen, but give credit to this young man for how he handled the situation.
When reps weren't coming in-game, Denis made the most of every opportunity on the practice court. He's been showing his coaches and teammates what he can do and now hopes to earn the opportunity to help the Tar Heels on the court this upcoming season.
One thing is for sure: the same fan base that wanted to see more of him a season ago are going to still be heavily rooting for him when he does start to see more playing time. This is a guy that everyone in Chapel Hill wants to succeed.
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