North Carolina guard Caleb Wilson put on a show in the Tar Heels’ 78-76 exhibition loss to the No. 8 BYU Cougars on Friday night, significantly impacting his first college basketball game. The freshman phenom, a former McDonald’s All-American, recorded a double-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, living up to his five-star billing.
How Will Caleb Wilson Elevate This North Carolina Roster?
Wilson was a prized recruit from the class of 2025, choosing to join the Tar Heels over offers from Kentucky and Ohio State. He is the crown jewel of a North Carolina roster, including transfers Henri Veesaar, Jarin Stevenson, and Kyan Evans, alongside returning senior Seth Trimble. After a disappointing 23-23 season in 2024-25 that ended with a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament, the addition of Wilson has dramatically raised expectations for coach Hubert Davis’ team in Chapel Hill.
During a recent “Locked on Tar Heels segment,” analysts Tyler Zeller and Isaac Schade discussed Wilson’s immediate impact. Zeller noted how quickly Wilson established himself as a key player.
“I think we’re finding out quickly that Caleb Wilson is our best player,” Zeller said. “I think Trimble has moments, I think some of the other guys have moments, but he’s so talented, he can score at the rim and rebound put back.”
Zeller also praised the freshman’s composure and decision-making on the court, especially after an early mistake. “He had the one that he caught it at the post and just shot it immediately,” Zeller continued. “I was really impressed as a freshman, he took that early three and then he didn’t try to do it again. I was worried he’d continue to try to do that, but once he missed it, he got downhill, he got to the rim. He showed what he’s so good for.”
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Schade highlighted Wilson’s maturity by contrasting his performance with another top prospect, Nate Ament of the Tennessee Volunteers. In Tennessee’s 83-76 exhibition loss to Duke, Ament struggled with his shot selection, finishing 5-for-19 from the field for 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“I don’t know if you watched the Duke-Tennessee game on Sunday, but that was what Nate Ament, the great, talented freshman at Tennessee, did not do well,” Schade said. “He just kept taking bad shots. Meanwhile, Cam Boozer was just being a dude out there. I liked Caleb’s maturity. He’s this affable, fun-loving dude off the court, but his basketball is beyond his years and belies his youth.”
Wilson’s impressive debut has already generated significant buzz for his professional future. In USA Today’s early 2026 NBA mock draft, he was projected as the No. 6 overall pick. That places him among the elite talents of his class, just behind other 2025 standouts like BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson.
