Former North Carolina star Caleb Wilson made the top-100 NBA ranking entering the new season.
The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program has produced many star players in the NBA over the years. North Carolina has prided itself on its success in this area, and the league has been in better hands because of it.
Recently, a former Tar Heel was taken in the top five of the 2026 NBA Draft, adding to the continued legacy of the historic program. Forward Caleb Wilson was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft by the Chicago Bulls, and the league was very high on Wilson's upside entering the NBA.
Wilson only played one season at North Carolina, but he was electric on the court. In this time, the forward averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
The forward led North Carolina to a 24-9 record, going 12-6 in ACC play. North Carolina did see its season end early in the NCAA Tournament, falling to VCU in the first round.
But nonetheless, Wilson's time with the Tar Heels was special, and the program will be watching his time in the NBA. Heading into the year, Wilson has already made the cut in the Top-100 Player Rankings for the 2026-27 NBA season.
Wilson came in ranked at No. 97 by the panel of experts. ESPN's Ben Golliver, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, Dave McMenamin, André Snellings and Matt "Stats" Williams were the insiders selected to make the player ranking.
"He's an extraordinary athlete with immense potential, and he even flashed unexpected 3-point range at summer league (42% on 7.8 attempts per game). Like all rookies, he'll undergo growing pains this season -- he committed 21 turnovers to just seven assists during summer league -- but he's the Bulls' most compelling prospect since Derrick Rose," Kram wrote.
Playing on the Bulls, Wilson should have all sorts of opportunities to thrive. Chicago isn't seen as a title contender, but rather a low-tier playoff team entering the season.
Wilson will be given a chance to show what he can do, and the organization seems to be very high on his overall upside. The Bulls haven't had a franchise player for a long time, and if all goes to plan for Wilson, he is expected to break that mold.
If Wilson can have success in the NBA, he would be another on a long list of players from North Carolina. And the Tar Heels' faithful will be watching his career very closely.
