North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson has been out of action since fracturing his left hand in a loss to the Miami Hurricanes on Feb. 10. Wilson’s ability to help the Tar Heels keep their offense on track is something head coach Hubert Davis wants back soon.
For now, North Carolina will have to play without Wilson, who is slotted as a potential top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Latest on North Carolina Star Caleb Wilson
On Saturday, the Tar Heels got a lift as center Henri Veesaar returned to the lineup. He scored 19 points and blocked three shots as North Carolina defeated Syracuse 77-64.
The Tar Heels needed to get this victory Saturday, even if it was against Syracuse.
HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/2tkRIlhSGY
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 21, 2026
Wilson’s timeline to return to the Tar Heels’ starting lineup remains at the forefront of fans’ minds. In his weekly radio show last Monday, Davis talked about when Wilson might get back.
“He is great,” Davis said. “If I said ‘OK,’ I think he would play with his cast on or his splint. I think he would. He’s just champing at the bit to come back, because obviously he loves playing, but he loves his teammates, and he loves playing here.”
Davis said Wilson will “be back on the floor soon” while also mentioning how Wilson is helping the team right now. Davis pointed out how his star forward was offering words of encouragement during last Saturday’s victory over Pittsburgh.
“A huge determining factor of us playing well on Saturday was also Caleb,” Davis said. “I didn’t see him on the bench, but I’ve seen highlights. He was great on the bench. I mean, he was so encouraging. His voice was in the locker room, was in the huddle.”
In the 2025-26 regular season for the Tar Heels, Wilson is averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, and is shooting 57.8% from the floor. Those are outstanding numbers for Wilson, making every time he steps on the court worth watching.
There’s no doubt Davis and the Tar Heels want to get into position for an appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Wilson’s return is critical to making that a reality. North Carolina, after beating Syracuse, is 21-6 overall and 9-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
When Wilson returns is not totally clear. But Davis was clear in saying he wants his star freshman back as soon as possible.
