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UNC Basketball Signee Falls to Ace Flagg in Playoffs

Future UNC basketball guard Isaiah Denis' prep career came to an end at the hands of Duke star Cooper Flagg's twin.
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UNC basketball | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The second of three 2025 UNC basketball recruiting prizes thus far, four-star guard Isaiah Denis and his Davidson Day (N.C.) Patriots finished 22-13 this season despite the incoming Tar Heel's recovery from a right hand injury in December. But their postseason run ran out off steam on Tuesday night.

ALSO READ: Surging Tar Heel Recruit Sees More Tobacco Road Interest

In the North Carolina private school semifinals, Davidson Day tallied a 45-39 loss to the Greensboro Day School Bengals (30-5). As SLAM HS Hoops notes below, Greensboro Day features the twin of current Duke basketball rookie forward and ACC Player of the Year frontrunner Cooper Flagg.

Ace Flagg, a 6-foot-7, 180-pound forward ranking No. 291 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, is committed to his home-state Maine Black Bears.

Denis, part of the No. 9-ranked UNC basketball haul, stacks up at No. 62 overall in the cycle, No. 11 among combo guards, and No. 2 in the state. The 6-foot-5, 175-pound four-star verbally committed to the Tar Heels on Nov. 2 and put it in ink 11 days later.

"Man, they were just so welcoming," Denis noted about Hubert Davis & Co. during his chat with Duke basketball legend Mike Gminski back in December when still sidelined due to injury. "Especially on my visit, just being so welcoming and feeling that family presence as soon as I walked on campus.

"And it was just kind of like a lot of signs showing towards Carolina...They had a plan for me too. So, that was another thing. I wanted to go somewhere where I knew they had a plan for me — how I could get better, how I could help the team...So, I definitely felt at home when I went there."

ALSO READ: Five-Star Lands Tar Heel Offer Ahead of Kansas Visit

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball recruiting news.


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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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