North Carolina fans have seen great players come through Chapel Hill, but every once in a while someone emerges who feels different — someone whose presence changes the energy of the building, whose talent forces even veterans to pause and shake their heads. That someone, right now, is freshman sensation Wilson.
After another standout performance, teammate Davis summed up what so many around the program have been whispering: some of the shots Wilson makes simply aren’t teachable. They aren’t the product of a coach drilling him in a gym or some secret workout regimen. They’re just a reflection of who he is — a naturally gifted, relentlessly confident basketball force. “Some of the shots that he hit today, that wasn’t from any individual workout; that’s just because he’s a dude, and he can play,” Davis said. “I’ve never seen that before either. So I like to continue to see things I’ve never seen before, in a good way.”
But greatness, especially in a freshman, rarely comes without imperfections. Wilson is still developing as a complete offensive weapon. His three-point shot remains a work in progress — just 2-for-11 on the season — and teams have started to test him with aggressive double-teams. That pressure has created a few turnovers, a natural challenge for a player who is now, unmistakably, the focal point of every opposing scouting report.
Yet what separates future stars from merely talented players is how quickly they adjust. Wilson isn’t afraid of that process. In fact, he’s embracing it. He admitted recently that he spoke with several NBA players (though he wouldn’t reveal which) about navigating traps and heavy defensive attention. Their advice was simple: stay poised, trust your teammates, and avoid forcing tough looks.
“I just try not to force stuff, honestly,” Wilson said after the game. “That’s just what it’s gonna be now. Play the game, find who’s open, tell my teammates to get in a position where I can see them and just let it happen.”
And on Sunday, it did. Instead of panicking in the face of pressure, Wilson repeatedly made the smart play. When defenders swarmed him, he kept his composure, calmly surveyed the floor, and kicked the ball out to open teammates. Those decisions turned what could have been turnovers into 4-on-3 advantages — and UNC capitalized. That type of evolution, so early in his career, is what has coaches and fans buzzing about how high his ceiling really is.
Still, growing pains are part of the journey. At times this season — notably against Michigan State and Kentucky — Wilson has been tempted to overpower defenses, even when two defenders collapsed on him. And it’s understandable. With his rare physical gifts, it must feel impossible not to challenge defenses head-on. After all, he’s a player who draws 7.3 fouls per game, one of the highest rates in the country among high-major players. On Sunday, despite constant attention, he drew seven fouls — and that actually lowered his average.
But what makes his development so compelling is that he’s learning when to push and when to pull back. That balance is where stars are truly formed. As he becomes more comfortable reading defenses, the game continues to slow down for him. And when that happens for a player with his size, strength, athleticism, and sheer instinct? The results are frightening for anyone unlucky enough to be standing between him and the basket.
With each game, it’s becoming clear that North Carolina doesn’t just have one of the best freshmen in America. It has one of the best players, period. A player who has already shown flashes that rival the best talents to come through UNC’s storied program — yet who still hasn’t scratched the surface of what he can become.
Wilson knows the target on his back is only getting bigger. “I’ll be the focus for every team now that we’re playing,” he said. “So just gotta show more of what I can do.”
And that’s the most exciting part for Tar Heel fans. The more teams try to stop him, the more he learns. The more he learns, the more dangerous he becomes. Every night seems to bring something new — a new move, a new read, a new moment that makes his teammates shake their heads in disbelief. This isn’t just potential; it’s production, dominance, and rapid improvement all happening at once.
Wilson is playing like someone who is destined for much more than a single standout season. He’s playing like someone who understands the moment, embraces the pressure, and thrives under it. Someone who is not only elevating his own game, but elevating North Carolina’s ceiling as well.
He is still growing, still adjusting, still learning — but the foundation is already that of a star. And if this is just the beginning, then the rest of the ACC — and college basketball as a whole — is in for a long season.
Because the scariest part about Wilson?
He isn’t close to finished. He isn’t close to his ceiling.
He’s just getting started.
