UNC Freshman Caleb Wilson Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

The one-and-done forward enters the pre-draft process as a projected lottery pick after an injury-shortened All-American season.

Overview

Wilson made his decision public in a UNC-released video that he also posted to his X and Instagram accounts.
The 6-foot-10 freshman averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds and earned first-team All-ACC and second-team Associated Press All-American honors.
His breakout year ended early after a left-hand fracture in February and a broken right thumb in a non-contact drill in early March.
UNC exited the NCAA Tournament with an 82-78 overtime loss to VCU, and local reporting has tied the late slide without Wilson to the firing of head coach Hubert Davis.
Key dates now include the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, the NBA Draft Combine from May 10–17, and the draft on June 24–25, with teams expected to monitor his hand recovery during evaluations.