UNC Basketball: Predicting Tar Heels' Most Improved Players in 2015-16

North Carolina is expected to be one of the top contenders for a basketball national championship next season, but it will need some major improvements from a number of key players in order to pull off this feat.

The squad returns almost every key member of last year's rotation with the exception of J.P. Tokoto, who elected to declare for the NBA draft. Adding top recruits Kenny Williams and Luke Maye to an experienced and talented group will clearly lead to high expectations.

Still, there is a lot of work that goes into improving from a Sweet 16 appearance one year to a championship the next year. It comes down to the individual athletes challenging themselves in the offseason to get better to help their team.

Fortunately for the Tar Heels, they can expect some big-time improvements from these players next season.

5. Isaiah Hicks, PF

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If there is one person who was likely less than thrilled when Brice Johnson decided to return to school, it was Isaiah Hicks. Obviously he should be happy for the team, but he will miss a chance to earn a lot more playing time next season.

The forward will be blocked in the starting lineup behind Johnson and Kennedy Meeks, but that won't prevent him from being an efficient contributor when on the floor.

Hicks averaged just 6.6 points and three rebounds per game last year but often excelled when he was given the chance to shine. His best performance came in a start against Boston College when he finished with a team-high 21 points in a winning effort.

Even if his minutes don't significantly increase next season, look for Hicks to be one of the top bench players in the ACC while giving maximum effort whenever he is on the floor.

4. Theo Pinson, SF

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A broken foot kept Theo Pinson out of the lineup for much of the second half of the season and slowed his development, but next year should be different for the 6'6" guard.

When he did play, Pinson struggled with efficiency while shooting just 36.8 percent from the floor and 26.9 percent from three-point range. The key for him will be to follow the path of the departed Tokoto and play to his strength while filling a role on an elite team.

Pinson won't be a go-to scorer next season, but he can help out by using his athleticism to become an above-average defender, slasher and finisher. It will be up to the rising sophomore to put his physical abilities into use.

If he can learn his role, he can have a much bigger impact in his second year with the program after a disappointing first year.

3. Joel Berry II, PG

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While we likely won't know the starting lineup until November, Joel Berry II certainly qualifies as a top candidate to be one of the five men on the floor. This would represent a smaller rotation with Marcus Paige moved to the 2, but it could be the best scenario for the Tar Heels.

Berry has the potential to be more of a true point guard for North Carolina while pushing the pace to the level Roy Williams likes to see. Paige will still have the ball in his hands a lot, but he can find more openings off the ball as well.

Even though Nate Britt got more playing time this past season, Berry has more upside as a former McDonald's All-American with impressive quickness. He also had a higher assist rate and lower turnover rate than his counterpart, via KenPom.com.

Whether he ends up starting or not, Berry should be a key contributor this upcoming season with the upside of one of the top point guards in the ACC.

2. Justin Jackson, SG

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In a roster full of talented players, Justin Jackson might be the top NBA prospect of the group. In a way too early projection, DraftExpress believes the guard will be the first of four North Carolina players to be taken in the first round of the 2016 draft.

The guard mostly took a backseat to the more veteran players on the roster early last year as a freshman, but as the year progressed he realized just how good he can be. He scored in double figures in 11 of the final 12 games of the year, averaging 13.4 points per game in this stretch after averaging just 9.5 in the first 26.

Jackson's best game of the year came in the ACC tournament when he totaled 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting in an upset win over Virginia. Even against an elite defense, the 6'8" scorer showcased his ability as a mismatch on the perimeter who can get into the lane and finish at the rim with ease.

Expect all the timidness he showed as a freshman to disappear as Jackson becomes more of a go-to player as a sophomore.

1. Brice Johnson, PF

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Unlike the rest of this list, Brice Johnson has already established himself as a productive college player. However, the forward has an opportunity to truly break out this season as one of the best in the nation.

At his best, Johnson is an elite interior scorer who runs the floor well and works hard on the glass. He had eight double-doubles this past year and was often dominant against opposing defenders who just couldn't keep up with his athleticism.

The problem was inconsistency, as Johnson had five games of just one made field goal as well as a few more where he was quieted by opposing teams. He cannot let this happen as a senior leader next season.

While Paige has been the team's leading scorer over the past two years, Johnson is the player truly capable of taking this squad to another level. If he plays with a high motor each time out, he could easily rack up plenty of 20-point, 10-rebound games throughout the season.

He is perfectly suited for North Carolina's fast-paced attack—he simply has to reach his potential.

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