North Carolina Star Caleb Wilson Could Return Soon With Medical Device

North Carolina star Caleb Wilson has been out since he fractured his non-shooting hand in a 75-66 loss to Miami on Feb. 10.

Wilson, expected to be a top pick in this year's NBA Draft, is a key component of a No. 16 Tar Heels roster that wants to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. He's averaging a team-high 19.8 points to go along with 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

UNC defeated Pittsburgh 79-65 on Saturday without Wilson. The Tar Heels are set to travel to play rival NC State on Tuesday night without their freshman forward.

Per ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Wilson is still learning how to play with a cast on his hand. UNC head coach Hubert Davis said on Monday that he is hopeful Wilson will return soon, though he wouldn't specify when that would likely happen. 

"Caleb, he is great," Davis said. "I think 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 to play, but he loves his teammates and he loves playing here...

"He'll be back on the floor soon, so that'll be great."

North Carolina is 20-5 overall and 8-4 in ACC play, tied with No. 21 Louisville for sixth place in the conference.

Davis is encouraged by Wilson's attitude as he recovers from the injury. He's been locked in during practice and hasn't been negative about his position with months to go before the draft.

"You will not have a better player, person and teammate than Caleb," Davis said. "It's just impossible. There is just no way you can do it.

"What a great example of when things weren't particularly going his way in regards to his hand, he's still a great teammate."

With Wilson out, junior forward Jarin Stevenson and senior guard Seth Trimble led the Tar Heels in scoring with 19 points each in Saturday's win over Pitt, dropping the Panthers to 9-17.

North Carolina will face a tougher test without Wilson when they play the 18-8 Wolfpack on Tuesday night.