UNC basketball signs first two pieces of 2025 recruiting class

The UNC men’s basketball team just got two players better in the 2025 recruiting class on Wednesday.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are no stranger to signing high-profile basketball recruits – just look at what they did in their 2024 recruiting class.

On Wednesday, UNC officially added two recruits to its roster, nabbing the first two pieces of its 2025 recruiting class.

Davidson Day School’s Isaiah Denis and Gonzaga College High School’s Derek Dixon, a pair of 4-star combo guards who should step into major roles for North Carolina during the 2025-2026 college basketball season, officially signed to continue their basketball careers in Chapel Hill.

Denis and Dixon aren’t too far removed from their initial commitments. Dixon committed to the Tar Heels on Friday, Sept. 27, while Denis committed on Saturday, Nov. 2.

At 6’5, I see Denis playing a role similar to current UNC freshman Drake Powell. Denis can either run the point or play shooting guard, but also has the height to play the 3-spot – if UNC head coach Hubert Davis elects for a smaller starting lineup.

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Dixon is a bit shorter at 6’3″, so I see him being exclusively a point guard or shooting guard. Dixon’s recruiting profile points to him being a solid perimeter shooter, so in the best case scenario, he produces at a high clip like reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis.

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The Tar Heels aren’t anywhere close to being done yet in the class of 2025, as they’re chasing the likes of top recruits Caleb Wilson and AJ Dybantsa. Plenty of high school kids are still undecided – and with Hubert Davis’ track record on the recruiting trail, expect several additional high school stars to choose North Carolina as their college basketball destination.

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Big class of 2025 basketball recruit to visit UNC this weekend

Can the UNC basketball program secure a commitment from one of the Class of 2025’s top in-state players this weekend?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are busy preparing for their upcoming basketball season, but they’re equally as busy on the recruiting trial.

UNC hosted AJ Dybantsa, the Class of 2025’s top-ranked player, last weekend. North Carolina is competing for Dybantsa’s commitment with six other schools, with hopes that the weekend visit was enough to influence Dybantsa’s thought.

North Carolina has its eye on 10 other Class of 2025 recruits – with one of those recruits coming to Chapel Hill very soon.

Isaiah Denis, a 4-star combo guard from Davidson Day School who is the second-ranked player in North Carolina, will be visiting the Tar Heels this weekend.

UNC will be Denis’ second of five scheduled visits in his recruiting process. Denis previously visited Ohio State on Sept. 7, then will be going to Wake Forest, Tennessee and Kansas in October.

The advantage of Denis visiting North Carolina early: Hubert Davis and crew are one of the first coaching staffs that’ll get to make a solid impression on him.

Looking ahead at the Tar Heels’ 2025-2026 roster, Denis is a particular need. UNC will say goodbye to reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, who runs out of eligibility. Drake Powell and Ian Jackson are also being billed as one-and-dones, so there’s three vacancies North Carolina needs to fill.

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Recruiting analyst ‘feels good’ with where UNC basketball stands with recruit

Are the North Carolina Tar Heels the leader for a four-star combo guard in the 2025 class?

Hubert Davis and North Carolina have yet to land a commitment from a recruit in the 2025 class but with a big fall ahead in terms of visits, that could change soon.

One prospect that North Carolina is pursuing is four-star combo guard Isaiah Denis. The Davidson, North Carolina recruit has a total of 25 offers as a top 50 recruit in the 2025 class and has visits set up for the fall including to North Carolina.

But even with a lot of time left in his recruitment, one recruiting analyst believes the Tar Heels are in good shape to land him.

On the latest episode of the The College Basketball Show,  247Sports recruiting analyst Travis Branham offered his thoughts on recruits and what teams lead. When it got to Denis and the Tar Heels, Branham had this to say:

“I feel good about where they stand with Isaiah Denis (No. 41 overall). He just picked up an offer from the Tar Heels. He’s a North Carolina native. I’ve been told that when that offer came in, it quickly changed things in this recruitment. If I see a North Carolina visit scheduled, my ears will immediately perk. That is one that they would be able to bring home, if they choose to to go down that route.”

For a program that is searching to still land its first commitment in the 2025 class, that’s great news to hear. Branham is plugged in and is usually spot-on with his assessments of recruitments.

Now, that doesn’t mean that UNC is a lock to get Denis but being in this spot is great news for them early on. They need a strong visit this fall and can potentially lock this one up.

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Ohio State basketball cracks top 10 for four-star PG Isaiah Denis

The Ohio State Buckeyes basketball program has been listed among the top 10 for Class of 2025 four-star recruit Isaiah Denis.

Isaiah Denis is ranked as the No. 8 combo guard in the nation for the class of 2025. He is currently the second-best player from North Carolina per 247Sports.

Originally from Davidson, North Carolina, about an hour or so north of Charlotte, Denis has already taken a trip to Columbus. That was back on September 7.

Ohio State offered Denis, and is among numerous teams that he is considering, having shortened his list of programs he’s interested in.

Michigan was also included in Denis’ final ten. Wake Forest, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Miami (Fl.), Kansas, and North Carolina are the other teams he is considering.

The Buckeyes only have one commit from the Class of 2025, four-star shooting guard Dorian Jones, who is from Cleveland. They would love to make that two if they can reel in Denis.

The top player from Ohio in the class, Niko Bundalo, has yet to commit and has also received an offer from Ohio State.

4-star North Carolina guard sets up official visit to Ohio State basketball

The Bucks will host one of the nation’s best in August. #GoBucks

Ohio State basketball is finally starting to make waves in the 2025 recruiting cycle as it continues to look for its first commitment of the class.

North Carolina combo guard, [autotag]Isaiah Denis[/autotag], is one of those that is highly considering the Buckeyes, and he has now planned an official visit to Columbus. The 6-foot, 5-inch, 165-pound star will be on campus starting on September 7.

The nation’s No. 76 overall prospect and 14th player at his position according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings will also visit Pittsburgh on August 30th and Michigan on September 21st. Denis has been offered by all three schools.

Denis would be a great addition for Ohio State, as his size and playmaking ability would fit very well with what new head coach Jake Diebler is trying to accomplish within his offense.

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Tennessee basketball offers 2025 combo guard Isaiah Denis

Tennessee basketball offers 2025 combo guard Isaiah Denis.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2025 combo guard prospect Isaiah Denis.

“After a great conversation with coach (Rick) Barnes and coach (Justin) Gainey, I’m extremely blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Denis said.

The 6-foot-5, 165-pound four-star combo guard prospect is from Davidson Day School in Davidson, North Carolina.

Denis ranks as the No. 76 prospect in the class of 2025. He ranks as the No. 14 combo guard and No. 3 player in North Carolina, according to 247Sports.

Khamenia has scholarship offers from Tennessee, UNC Greensboro, High Point, Georgia State, Arizona State, Indiana State, Radford, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Florida, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, LSU, California, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan and Clemson.

Center DeWayne Brown is Tennessee’s only commitment in its 2025 recruiting class.

Ohio State basketball offers 2025 North Carolina combo guard

The Bucks offer the fast rising combo guard. #GoBucks

For all the good news that has come since Ohio State men’s basketball named [autotag]Jake Diebler[/autotag] as its head coach, the Buckeyes are still without a 2025 class commitment.

The coaching staff is hard at trying to change that, and on Sunday it offered North Carolina combo guard, [autotag]Isaiah Denis[/autotag]. Although he is unranked at the moment, the 6-foot, 5-inch, 165-pound slasher still holds an impressive offer list that includes Arizona State, Florida — and now Ohio State.

The rise for Denis has come during the spring, as he has performed extremely well during multiple showcases but mainly the Nike EYBL that has gone on during May.

If he continues his strong play, others will surely join in offering Denis, but the Buckeyes saw enough to warrant a scholarship.

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