Jan. 31, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET
Any time you turn your TV on to watch a UNC basketball game, chances are the broadcast team is praising freshman superstar Caleb Wilson.
A main reason behind North Carolina’s 2025-26 success, Wilson turns heads whenever he has the basketball in his hands. Known for his highlight-reel dunks, abilities to take on anyone in the paint and haul in rebounds, Wilson is one of the best players in college basketball.
Fans want Wilson back for another year, but he’s likely a one-and-done en route to the NBA. In USA TODAY Sports’ third 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Wilson goes fourth overall to the Indiana Pacers.
“Just one year removed from an appearance in the NBA Finals, the Pacers are now in a position to add one of the top prospects to their rotation, once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles tendon injury,” Bryan Kalbrosky writes. “Now that Myles Turner is no longer on the roster, North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is a name they should consider. The double-double machine leads the nation in dunks and would bolster the frontcourt – next to Pascal Siakam.”
Entering the Tar Heels’ Saturday afternoon road clash with Georgia Tech, Wilson averages a 19.9 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game double-double. Wilson now shares UNC’s record, for most 20-point games by a freshman, with Tyler Hansbrough (14).
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North Carolina has a deep roster, but Wilson is the main star. Wilson benefits from a post tandem with Henri Veesaar, while having guards like Seth Trimble who can orchestrate the offense.
As Wilson goes, so do the Tar Heels? Can UNC cap Wilson’s already-impressive freshman season with a National Championship?
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