Jan. 12, 2026, 1:44 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is meeting high expectations, with some projecting him as a top NBA draft pick.Wilson is currently averaging 19.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels.He recently recorded his 11th double-double, matching a record for a UNC freshman set by Armando Bacot.<\/p>\n
Caleb Wilson arrived at North Carolina<\/a> with the weight of lottery-pick expectations. Fifteen games into his freshman season, he looks every bit like the franchise cornerstone NBA teams envisioned.<\/p>\n In a recent mock draft<\/a>, USA Today NBA writer Bryan Kalbrosky slotted Wilson at No. 4 overall to the Washington Wizards, behind only AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas) and Cameron Boozer (Duke).<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the Wizards evaluate the young talent potentially available to them, like any team drafting early regardless of need, they should have the name Caleb Wilson highlighted and underlined on their big board,\u201d Kalbrosky wrote. \u201cAs a freshman, he currently leads the nation in dunks, per Bart Torvik<\/a>. He is also a rebounding machine and Washington should want a reliable double-double in the frontcourt who can make a ridiculously strong defensive impact. He is the type of player who can potentially tie everything together on the court no matter where he is selected.\u201d<\/p>\n Wilson has lived up to the height so far, averaging 19.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting an effieicient 57.3% from the floor. He also leads the Tar Heels in blocks (1.4) and steals (1.4) per game.\u00a0<\/p>\n In North Carolina\u2019s 87-84 win over Wake Forest on Saturday, Caleb Wilson finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, giving him his eighth 20-10 performance and 11th double-double of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n With that effort, Wilson matched Armando Bacot for the second-most double-doubles by a UNC freshman with 11, trailing only Antawn Jamison\u2019s 13. It also marked Wilson\u2019s 11th 20-point outing, the third-most by a Tar Heels freshman behind Tyler Hansbrough\u2019s 14 and Rashad McCants\u2019 12.<\/p>\n Follow us@TarHeelsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels<\/a>\u00a0news, notes and opinions<\/p>\n