North Carolina star Caleb Wilson will miss the NCAA Tournament due to injury.
The injury ends his season prematurely. Wilson is expected to be an early pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Wilson’s Impact on the Tar Heels
Caleb Wilson was outstanding for the Tar Heels this season. The 6-foot-10 former five-star recruit averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 57.8% in 24 games. He is also set for his No. 8 jersey to hang in the rafters next season.
Wilson scored 23 points in North Carolina’s win over Duke in February. This was also his last full game before he was injured.
Details of the Injury
North Carolina announced on March 5 that Wilson broke his right thumb in practice. He was preparing for his return from another injury that sidelined him for nearly a month during the regular season. Wilson broke a bone in his left hand against Miami on Feb. 10 and was aiming for a return against Duke in the regular season finale before breaking his right thumb.
“I didn’t know right away,” Wilson told reporters on March 18 before UNC’s game against VCU in the NCAA Tournament. “It hurt a lot, and things usually don’t hurt that much. I just went and got x-rays and found out.”
UNC’s Tournament Path
North Carolina’s March Madness path won’t be easy. It opens the big dance against No. 11 seed VCU, winners of 16 of its last 17 games and the A-10 Conference Championship.
Wilson’s NBA Draft Prospects
Wilson is in the top tier of NBA prospects for this year’s draft. Other potential top prospects include BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.
The injury was severe enough to end the rest of Wilson’s true freshman season. It was a devastating blow to North Carolina’s March Madness chances, especially as he was nearing a return from his previous injury.