Isaiah Denis, the No. 47 overall recruit in the country, has committed to the North Carolina Tar Heels, he tells 247Sports.
The 6-foot-5, 175-pound combo guard out of Davidson (N.C.) Day picked North Carolina over a group of finalists that included Ohio State, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Miami and Tennessee.
“I would say just the coaching staff in how they made me feel wanted and showed me that I was a need,” Denis said of why he chose North Carolina. “Also, just talking to God, it was the right place for me. I didn’t want to go where I wanted to go, I wanted to go where God wanted me to go. Also, just the culture over there. It’s UNC basketball, a Blue Blood, national powerhouse, all the legacy they built at UNC. It’s in-state, the hometown kid and having that love from everybody. It was everything combined I could want.”
RELATED: Scouting Isaiah Denis and his fit at UNC
Denis was in the midst of a tight recruiting battle between North Carolina, Ohio State and Wake Forest but his relationship with Hubert Davis was the ultimate separator.
“He’s a family guy and so am, I so we related quickly,” Denis said of what has stood out about Davis. “I can laugh and joke with him. I always tell my parents and people around me, if I can’t laugh and joke with you, then you can’t coach me because I know their objective is to get us where we want to be but at the same time you have to enjoy your time off the court with them and on the court. So, being able to relate to them and being able to have a regular relationship with them. I had that with a lot of coaches but I felt that UNC was the right place for me as a person.”
Denis is a talented combo guard with great size. He is a good athlete but excels as a shooter from three and can score by getting downhill. He has speed, bounce and upside to tap into as he continues to polish his handle and get stronger in the North Carolina weight room.
“In my eyes, I feel like I will bring leadership abilities, playmaking abilities and speed,” Denis told 247Sports. “Really those three things and defense too. Create shots for myself, create shots for others… I feel like I can also bring leadership to the team as well, be vocal and have that presence.”
Denis is the second commitment for North Carolina in the 2025 recruiting class joining four-star combo guard Derek Dixon, who committed to UNC on Sept. 27.
Denis has a big message for Tar Heel fans: “Let’s bring another national championship to UNC!”
