What have we got here?
Caleb Wilson has garnered plenty of headlines in his short time in Chapel Hill. Not far behind is freshman point guard Derek Dixon, whose heroics against Kentucky have cemented his status on the roster. But what about the third freshman in the Class of 2025?
Charlotte guard Isaiah Denis has found playing time hard to come by this season. He's only appeared in six games so far, averaging just 3.3 minutes of playing time per game. But against East Carolina in garbage time, he got the ball in his hands and showed that he's got something the rest of the team lacks. Top-end speed.
I don't think I've seen a player as fast as Denis with the ball in his hands since Ty Lawson. Keep in mind that Isaiah Denis stands at 6-foot-4, so having rocket shoes with the height to see over defenses makes him a tantalizing weapon.
Denis scored a season high six points, hitting a three on the way. He's shooting 50% from downtown this season, in limited opportunities. If he can get his defense sorted, his height, speed, and shooting are assets that can help a UNC front court that will get swamped with double teams in ACC play.
And with Seth Trimble's return, having another guard that can run will lead to easy fast break baskets, which will also keep opposing coaches from crashing the boards on offense for fear of outlets that turn into two points in less than four seconds. Isaiah Denis is another one to watch.