In the days leading up to North Carolina’s Nov. 7 matchup with Kansas, freshman forward Caleb Wilson posted a simple message online: a “white out” was coming to the Dean Smith Center.
There was only one issue—UNC had planned a “Blue Out.”
But the fanbase had other ideas. Thanks to Wilson’s influence and the viral push from supporters, the university officially shifted course. The “white out” became real.
That electric atmosphere set the stage for an 87–74 Tar Heel victory and Wilson’s breakout performance: 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
“He’s played less than two games, and already the whole crowd is cheering his every move,” head coach Hubert Davis said afterward. “Is there something he does to connect with people beyond just being a great basketball player? Absolutely.”
What the Chapel Hill crowd is discovering now is something those in Atlanta already knew: Caleb Wilson has always had a presence—on the court, in a room, and in a community.
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Foundations at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School
Before Wilson was a UNC star, he was a towering eighth grader enrolling at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta. Mario Mays, the school’s head basketball coach, remembers the moment perfectly.
“First thing, he was a 6-8 eighth grader,” Mays said, laughing. “I knew instantly we had a chance to build the program around this kid for the next four years.”
Mays watched Wilson dominate an AAU event that spring and realized quickly that his size was just one part of the equation.
“He had a wide range of skills and did things you don’t see young guys do,” Mays said. “It was obvious he was going to be special.”
Jason Rutledge, the upper school principal and former college basketball player, met Wilson during his academic planning meeting. He didn’t immediately grasp his talent—until he saw him play.
“I had no idea he would become the talent he did,” Rutledge said. “Once I watched him, I realized he was way ahead of guys like Andre Patterson and Derrick Favors at the same age. That’s when I knew.”
But what impressed Rutledge most wasn’t Wilson’s size or skill—it was his personality.
“He’s got that Magic Johnson charisma,” Rutledge said. “He lights up a room, makes everyone feel at ease, and still handles his business academically and athletically.”
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From Pressure to Leadership
Wilson entered his senior season with sky-high expectations. Holy Innocents’ had just lost the state title game by five points, despite Wilson posting 26 points and 18 rebounds.
Early in the year, the team wasn’t clicking. The pressure weighed heavily. So Mays turned to Rutledge, who teaches sports psychology, to help redirect the team’s mindset.
“You could see the tension,” Rutledge said. “It looked like an All-Star game—guys playing individually, scouts watching, everyone tense.”
Rutledge taught the group about positive physical interactions—high-fives, pats on the back—using a study and examples from Steve Nash’s MVP season. Such simple acts, he explained, correlate with trust, confidence, and winning.
Wilson absorbed the lesson immediately.
“You could see changes right away,” Rutledge recalled. “His assertiveness, his engagement, how he lifted his teammates. That’s what separates him. He doesn’t run from challenges—he attacks them.”
Wilson’s final year was dominant: 21.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.6 blocks and 2.1 steals per game. More importantly, Holy Innocents’ won its first-ever state championship.
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The Killer Instinct
Heading into the Kansas game at UNC, Wilson was fueled by something deeper than nerves.
“I told Coach, ‘Bro, this s— matters to me,’” Wilson said. “They say there’s someone on the other team better than me. And we haven’t beaten Kansas in 23 years. This is personal.”
The “someone” was Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, widely projected as a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Just a week earlier, analyst Jeff Goodman ranked Wilson only the fifth-best freshman in the ACC.
Mays wasn’t surprised the slight motivated him.
“He’s always searching for something to drive him,” Mays said. He recalled Wilson returning from the McDonald’s All-American Game frustrated that others—Cameron Boozer, A.J. Dybantsa, and Peterson—had the ball more.
“He knows how to push his own buttons,” Mays said. “He works his tail off.”
Against Kansas, Wilson delivered a national coming-out moment.
“I think he showed he deserves to be in the conversation with the top freshmen and top draft guys,” Mays said. “He’s a winner first. That’s what separates him.
“Supercharged Glue”
Mays always knew UNC was the right fit—not just for Wilson’s game, but for his spirit.
“When you look at Caleb, his energy uplifts everyone,” Mays said. “If he ran for student body president at UNC, he’d probably win.”
Rutledge saw the same infectious personality in high school. Wilson was a campus fixture, constantly interacting with younger students and energizing the student section, “The Bear Den.”
That’s why Rutledge calls him “supercharged glue.”
“He connects people,” Rutledge said. “He jokes around, makes everyone feel included, and it’s always positive. Kids love him. Adults love him. He just gets it.”
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Caleb Wilson is more than a freshman phenom. He’s a connector, a competitor, a leader—and now, unmistakably, a Tar Heel star.
