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3h ago

UNC Freshman Caleb Wilson Has Season-Ending Right-Thumb Surgery Ahead of Duke, ACC Tournament

The practice-dunk injury forces No. 17 UNC into the postseason without its leading scorer.

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Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) shoots prior to the game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Overview

  • North Carolina announced Wilson broke his right thumb during a non-contact practice drill on Thursday and will miss the remainder of the season.
  • ESPN reporting indicates he has already undergone surgery and is expected to be medically cleared for the NBA pre-draft process.
  • Wilson had fractured his left, non-shooting hand on Feb. 10 at Miami, missed six games, and had been progressing toward a return before the new injury.
  • UNC is 24-6 overall and locked into the No. 4 seed with a double-bye at next week’s ACC Tournament, with the regular-season finale at No. 1 Duke on Saturday.
  • The freshman averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds, UNC went 5-1 without him, and he set program freshman marks for scoring average and 20-point games.