Overview
- North Carolina announced the freshman broke his right thumb during a non-contact practice dunk on Thursday and would miss the rest of the season, with ESPN reporting the surgery was completed Friday.
- Wilson had recently shed a cast from a Feb. 10 left-hand fracture and was progressing toward a return before the new injury halted his comeback.
- He averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 24 games, leading UNC and setting program freshman scoring marks during a standout first season.
- UNC, already locked into a double-bye as the ACC Tournament’s No. 4 seed, lost 76-61 at No. 1 Duke on Saturday and now prepares for the postseason without its top playmaker.
- Multiple outlets report Wilson is expected to be cleared for NBA pre-draft activities this spring, keeping his high-lottery projection on track pending evaluations.