Despite injury setbacks, the North Carolina Tar Heels' two-way force is surging up draft boards. His elite athletic ceiling and defensive versatility now threaten to crack the top three.
Caleb Wilson made quite the impression during his freshman season at UNC.
Despite his season ending on Feb. 10 due to a couple of hand injuries, Wilson is expected to go high in the upcoming draft. He averaged 9.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer are projected to be the top three players taken in the 2026 NBA Draft by most scouts and analysts at this point in the offseason.
Wilson is projected as the No. 4 athlete, though he is considered to have a higher ceiling than a few of the above-mentioned prospects.
Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports argued that Wilson could rise into the Top 3 if he plays his cards right during the pre-draft process. As a basketball player that was a force on offense and defense at UNC, NBA teams could give him extra value this spring.
"North Carolina star Caleb Wilson is going to knock the interviews and the athletic testing out of the park," Trotter wrote. "The athleticism, the smile, the competitiveness, the ability to put his nose on the rim, it's all there. Wilson fits like a glove with what the Chicago Bulls are looking for under new general manager, Bryson Graham.
"But will he get to No. 4 overall? It's still the most likely outcome, but there's no question that Wilson can surge even more with a strong week. He fits the profile of what each NBA team is looking for as a two-way wing with elite athletic tools and an insatiable desire to win. Can he vault past Peterson or Duke's Cameron Boozer? It's certainly not out of the question."
On Monday, Evan Sidery suggested the Memphis Grizzlies could draft Wilson over Boozer because of the upside for the former Tar Heels center.
“There’s a real chance the Grizzlies decide to select Caleb Wilson over Cam Boozer at No. 3,” Sidery posted on X. “Many NBA scouts and top decision-makers view Wilson as the higher ceiling, but Boozer with the more safe floor outcome.
"The (Chicago) Bulls are very comfortable picking the remaining one at No. 4.”
The Grizzlies have a tough decision to make if Boozer and Wilson are both on the board at No. 3. Wilson isn't a lock to be the No. 4 pick, but it would be a stunner if he's still available at pick No. 5.