The North Carolina Tar Heels are preparing for the upcoming 2026-27 college basketball season, the first under new head coach Michael Malone. While things ended in disaster last year, with the program blowing a 19-point lead to VCU and ending their season. But one bright spot was five-star freshman Caleb Wilson. Despite getting hurt, Wilson had a huge season for the Tar Heels and then was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. Now, he’s ready to start his NBA career as training camps are underway.
As we get set for the start of the NBA season, ESPN ranked the players and checking in at No. 97 is Wilson. He cracked the top 100 before even playing a game. Here is what ESPN wrote on Wilson:
Wilson is the first of four rookies on this list, which befits the No. 4 pick from the most recent draft. 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. — Zach Kram
Signature stat: Wilson was the second freshman to lead North Carolina in scoring, rebounding and steals in a season, joining Tyler Hansbrough in 2005-06.
That’s a good ranking for Wilson as he’s a rookie and has yet to play in a regular season game. As for fellow rookies, Cameron Boozer is No. 85, Darryn Peterson is No. 83, and AJ Dybantsa checks in at No. 78 overall in the rankings.
Time will tell if Wilson lives up to the hype but it feels like UNC has a star in the making in the NBA.
