Heels reel in rising junior forward

Isaiah Hicks had said more than once that North Carolina was his leader. He'd even taken things a step further and said that he would commit once he was offered a scholarship.

Monday night, North Carolina took the 6-foot-8 power forward from Raleigh (N.C.) Body of Christ to task and he lived up to his word.

"Just committed to Carolina," the four-star prospect confirmed via Twitter on Monday.

His commitment is very significant for the Tar Heels. He's a local product, for starters, and more importantly he can play.

Ranked No. 23 nationally in the class of 2013, Hicks is a high-level, run-and-jump athlete. He is the Tar Heels' first commitment from the rising junior class.

Rivals.com took an extended look at Hicks during the NIKE Elite 100 camp in mid-June and here's what we wrote at the time.

"He's lacking in bulk, checking in at just 194 pounds. But, Hicks is an elite level athlete with explosiveness, quickness, leaping ability, speed and agility. He erases shots around the rim, explodes for dunks and runs the floor impressively. Hicks appears to be just scratching at his potential and looked the part of a top 25 prospect."