Returning UNC guard confident in offseason improvements

The UNC men's basketball team got a major boost to its roster on Sunday, when point guard Isaiah Denis announced his withdrawal from the transfer portal.

Denis entered Chapel Hill as part of a talented, 3-man recruiting class with Caleb Wilson and Derek Dixon. Wilson recently declared for the NBA Draft, so he's gone after one season, while Dixon is now at Arizona.

Entering his sophomore season, Denis is poised for a breakout year. In a recent episode of the Carolina Insider podcast, Denis was confident when speaking about his offseason improvements, giving fans something to be excited about months in advance of the 2026-27 campaign:

“I definitely feel like I got a lot better," Denis said. :I feel like my confidence right now is really through the roof, like I’m on another level right now. I’m just ready to get out there and let that dog out of the cage. I feel like I’m never complacent. I feel like I could get better in every area, strengths and weaknesses. But I’d say kind of just getting a little bit stronger. Been working with Jonas (Sahratian) a lot, trying to get ready for that in game contact, being physical. I feel like when I unlock that part of my game and really just embrace that part, it’s going to be thrilling to see. And then just want to be very consistent this year."

The Tar Heels started finalizing their backcourt on Tuesday, landing commitments from Utah guard Terrence Brown and NC State guard Matt Able. Denis will likely start alongside Brown to open the year, while Able can work his way into the starting lineup.