Caleb Wilson didn’t need much time to make an impression at North Carolina’s summer camp. The freshman forward has already caught the attention of coaches and insiders around Chapel Hill and is being considered a future lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Early reactions have been strong. One North Carolina insider claimed they hadn’t seen a player like Wilson in over a decade. Wilson has drawn comparisons to Drake Powell, who is the program’s most recent NBA first-round pick. The insider is placing Wilson among the camp’s top performers.
Caleb Wilson Turns Heads at UNC Summer Camp
Wilson’s strong showing at UNC’s summer camp is turning heads in the college basketball community ahead of the 2025 season. As North Carolina looks to boost its scoring options, head coach Hubert Davis is already considering putting the freshman ahead of senior point guard Seth Trimble and international player Luka Bogavac in the rotation.
The 6’10” forward brings versatility that could solve multiple problems for the Tar Heels. His ability to play multiple positions gives Davis flexibility in lineups, especially when facing different defensive schemes. Wilson’s size and skill set make him a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches.
Recently, veteran scout Bill Robinson did not shy away when evaluating Wilson’s impact at camp. Speaking with Isaac Schade of Locked On Tar Heels, Robinson said, “It doesn’t matter who he’s playing or who he’s playing against, he just plays super hard. He didn’t shoot the ball well one night, the next night he did, but every time he shoots the ball, it looks like it’s going in.”
Robinson also praised Wilson’s offensive skill set. He noted that Wilson can shoot from deep, use post fadeaways, and finish at the rim with power. His versatility makes him a mismatch on the court, regardless of position. The combination of size and perimeter skills is exactly what modern college basketball demands.
Elite High School Resumé Backs Up the Hype
Wilson enters Chapel Hill with a strong profile. He led Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School to a Georgia state championship earlier this year and is considered a top-10 national prospect for UNC’s incoming freshman class, widely projected as a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
During his senior season, he averaged 21.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.5 blocks, and 2.1 steals per game, showing elite two-way potential.
Those numbers tell the story of a complete player. Wilson’s rebounding and shot-blocking show his interior presence, while the assists prove he can create for teammates. The steals demonstrate active hands and basketball IQ that translates to the next level.
When asked to compare the power forward with Powell, the insider responded, “They’re different, obviously, but he can score a whole lot better than Drake can. He’s a better defender than I expected him to be. He’s probably not the defender Drake is yet, but I think he’s potentially as good, if not better. We haven’t seen anybody like him in the gym in 10 years.”
In the lab with UNC bound jumbo-wing Caleb Wilson today. Easy to see why he is mocked in the Lottery for the 2026 NBA Draft.📈👀
6’10” with a budding perimeter skillset and extremely versatile. His playmaking ability is super slept on, and he’s comfortable initiating the… pic.twitter.com/my0K0EgEM7
GREENLIGHT MEDIA (@greenlightbball) May 22, 2025
Powell was UNC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25 and impressed scouts with a 43-inch vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine. He was selected 22nd overall by the Nets in the first round. That gives Wilson a clear blueprint for success, though his offensive ceiling appears higher than Powell’s.
However, if Robinson’s “10-year” comment is any indication, then Wilson has the potential to be a top-10 pick in next year’s NBA Draft. With the 2025 college basketball season approaching, everyone will be watching closely to see how his future unfolds. The early signs suggest Wilson could be the type of player who changes UNC’s trajectory this season.