Coming into this season, one of the most hyped players in all of college basketball was Tar Heel Isaiah Hicks. After two years of contributing on and off in a limited bench role, he broke out last season as the best sixth man in the ACC and one of the best in the entire country. Hicks averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds on 61.4 percent shooting in just 18.1 minutes per game. His per 40 minutes numbers indicate an even greater impact, too: 19.8 points (second on the team) and 10.2 rebounds.
Backing up Brice Johnson, Hicks relished the role of coming off the bench and manhandling backup units.