Roy gives glimpse of his newest band of boys

Four practices, one message.

Since Friday, when the North Carolina men’s basketball team officially began its season by NCAA standards, Roy Williams has made one thing clear.

“That is our best player,” he’ll say with a point to junior guard Marcus Paige. “Don’t anybody forget that.”

Williams isn’t telling his players anything they don’t already know, as Paige led the team in both points and minutes with 17.5 and 35.6, respectively in 2013-14.

Now, with one of the most balanced teams Williams has had in recent years, the 2014-15 Tar Heels also know it’s time for someone — or some group — to step up and help Paige carry his already heavy load.

With the addition of freshman guard Joel Berry to compliment Paige and sophomore guard Nate Britt in the backcourt, the issue doesn’t lie with Williams’ point guards. And with Theo Pinson and Justin Jackson joining J.P. Tokoto on the perimeter, the wings aren’t a concern either.

What Williams wants to see is for someone in the post to ?establish himself now that James Michael McAdoo is gone. Four practices in, Williams is still waiting on someone to step up.

The contenders? Isaiah Hicks and Brice Johnson at the four, Kennedy Meeks and Joel James at the five.

Johnson averaged 10.3 points per game in 2013, with Meeks following behind at 7.6. James and Hicks both averaged fewer than two points per game, but both saw less than half of the playing time that Johnson and Meeks saw.

“It’s starting to get really competitive, and really, either you’re going to play, or you’re not going to play,” said James, who ran with the starters in the first practices. “Sunday practice, that was a mean practice.”

Meeks, who came to UNC as a freshman at 319 pounds and now weighs 275, tied with Johnson last year in rebounds, hauling in 6.1 per game.

During the offseason, he made it a priority to eat healthy and trim down in an effort to be more explosive.

“The other day I pulled out a shirt from my locker, and it was like a dress,” a beaming Meeks said. “It really put a smile on my face just to prove that I’ve really been dedicated to this.”

But if he’s to land a starting role, Meeks must beat the fellow big men eyeing one, too.

Williams said the practices have been “vicious,” but he’s already eager for someone to separate from the pack.

“I don’t think there’s anybody questioning here that Marcus last year stepped up and said, ‘I’m going to be a big time player,’” Williams said.

“Now one of the post players has got to step up and say that.”

sports@dailytarheel.com