The North Carolina Tar Heels’ freshman star Caleb Wilson has not suited up since fracturing his left hand on February 10, but that hasn’t slowed the debate about his NBA future, and safe to say that he has been phenomenal after all. As the 2026 draft conversation intensifies, one former Tar Heel believes Wilson deserves to be discussed at the very top of the board.
UNC Legend Makes Strong Case for Caleb Wilson as No. 1 Pick
Appearing on the Yahoo Sports Daily podcast, former North Carolina star Raymond Felton was asked about Wilson’s absence and what separates him from the rest of a loaded freshman class.
The discussion centered on Wilson’s month-long layoff and whether his projected top-five status should remain intact. Felton didn’t hesitate when explaining the forward’s appeal.
“I think it’s just his own his mentality,” said Felton. “Obviously he’s very talented. He’s very skilled and he has a big upside. And, as far as looking at him as a as an NBA guy, he has a big upside. They probably the biggest upside in this draft.”
“But his mentality, just talking to him and just seeing him play, his mentality to me reminds me of Kevin Garnett, just his desire to win, his dog mentality,” Felton added. “He works hard, he wants to get better, he wants to learn. I think things like that can take you a long way. So with him being a guy that’s already had some stardom, he still works, he still wants to get better, he still wants to, he’s still hungry. And that means a lot.”
Felton’s comparison to Kevin Garnett wasn’t about polish, but mindset — a relentless edge he believes translates to long-term NBA growth.
How Caleb Wilson Stacks Up Against the 2026 Draft Field
The 2026 draft class is widely viewed as elite at the top, with Kansas star Darryn Peterson, Duke star Cameron Boozer, and BYU phenom A.J. Dybantsa frequently mentioned in No. 1 conversations. Felton acknowledged their talent but ultimately circled back to Wilson’s ceiling.
“To me, I think he can possibly still go into that top one pick,” Felton said. “I mean, he could be number one, honestly, it depends on how the lottery ball goes and who gets that first pick. To be honest with you, I love A.J. [Dybantsa], I love Darryn Peterson. I like [Cam] Boozer as well. I think all three of those guys are really good. But to me, Caleb is a guy that has the biggest upside out of all of them.”
“But to me, Caleb [Wilson] is the guy that has the biggest upside out of all of them.” 👀
UNC legend @RFeltonGBMS believes Carolina’s star freshman should be in the conversation as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
(via Yahoo Sports Daily) pic.twitter.com/yrzaU3YRVY
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 4, 2026
Wilson’s strong freshman numbers back up the optimism surrounding his draft deliberation. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 57.8 percent from the field. Before the injury, he delivered 23 points in a rivalry win over Duke, underscoring his ability to perform on big stages.
Head coach Hubert Davis recently shared that Wilson is out of his cast and progressing through individual workouts, though he has yet to return to contact drills. A comeback before tournament play remains possible.
Whether Wilson returns this season or not, his draft stock will be much clearer over the course of March Madness. With the 2026 NBA Draft set for June 25-26, his recovery, postseason impact, and pre-draft process could ultimately determine whether Felton’s bold projection becomes reality.
