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NCAA Basketball: 20 breakout candidates for 2016-17

By Carmine Carcieri

Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (2) brings the ball up court against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (2) brings the ball up court against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) is defended by Syracuse Orange center DaJuan Coleman (32) and guard Trevor Cooney (10) in the first half in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) is defended by Syracuse Orange center DaJuan Coleman (32) and guard Trevor Cooney (10) in the first half in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Isaiah Hicks (North Carolina)

Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels have to make up for the loss of Brice Johnson, who averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game in 2015-16.

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The player that has to fill Johnson’s slot in the front court is senior forward Isaiah Hicks.

The 6’8″, 230 pound forward averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game last season. Hicks also shot 61 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line.

He has never averaged more than 18 minutes per game in a single season in his entire college career. In 2016-17, that is almost certainly going to change though. Hicks is likely to start up front as he brings athleticism, mobility and strength to the Tar Heels’ front court.

Hicks can run the floor with the best of them, rebound the basketball on both ends of the court, finish emphatically and block the occasional shot. He must learn how to defend without fouling (stop reaching and play straight up in the paint), but other than that weakness, Hicks is just waiting for his turn in UNC’s loaded lineup.

With Hicks, Joel Berry II, Nate Britt, Theo Pinson, Justin Jackson and a solid recruiting class in Chapel Hill, Tar Heel fans have to be excited about the possibility of yet another Final Four appearance. This time it could be because of balance and the breakout play of Hicks.

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