UNC freshman an early first-round pick in USA TODAY Sports' NBA Mock Draft
Thanks to Hubert Davis reinforcing his roster through the transfer portal and another solid recruiting class, UNC should return to its contending ways in the 2025-2026 college basketball season.
North Carolina added necessary height via the portal, highlighted by 7-foot center Henri Veesaar and 6'11" Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson. The Tar Heels also nabbed a starting point guard in Kyan Evans, who comes over from Colorado State, plus a pair of shooting guards in Jonathan Powell and Jaydon Young.
UNC's most anticipated roster addition, though, is 5-star freshman power forward Caleb Wilson. A versatile 6'9" standout who can finish thunderous dunks, score from virtually anywhere on the court, defend anyone and rebound with ease, Wilson should start for Hubert from Day One.
Yet to play in a college game, Wilson is still garnering plenty of preseason NBA Draft hype. In USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Wilson will be selected sixth overall.
Leading the above Mock Draft is former North Carolina target AJ Dybantsa, who ultimately chose to play at BYU. Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cam Boozer (Duke), former Tar Heel target Nate Ament (Tennessee) and Karim Lopez, a highly-touted Mexican prospect who plays for the New Zealand Breakers.
Wilson is a 5-tool player the Tar Heels and their massive fanbase crave, as he averaged 21.7 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, 3.5 blocks and 1.9 steals per game during his senior high school campaign. Wilson led Holy Innocents Episcopal School to a state championship last fall, earned a McDonalds All-American invite and was named Georgia's 2024-2025 Gatorade Boys' Basketball Player of the Year.
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