Caleb Wilson is starting to climb the mock draft boards
The North Carolina Tar Heels are off to a 4-0 start this season heading into Tuesday’s matchup against Navy in the Dean Dome. A big reason for their hot start has been the play of freshman forward Caleb Wilson.
The former five-star recruit is averaging 20 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7 percent from the field. He’s been North Carolina’s best player so far this season and has flashed the potential many thought he had in his recruiting cycle.
Now, his play has him climbing the draft boards even more.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo released his first mock draft for the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, with Wilson cracking the top five in the lottery. Woo has Wilson going No. 5 to his hometown team, the Atlanta Hawks:
Wilson looks to have made a tangible jump since arriving in college, impressing NBA teams with a newfound competitive gear that’s translating into big-time production. His energy and impact in the paint defensively and on the glass have made a huge difference, coupled with a strong feel and passing ability. The main challenge moving forward will be projecting his jump shot, as he hasn’t taken many 3s and has been inconsistent from the foul line (68.8%). It’s unlikely he can be an offensive focal point in the NBA without major growth in that area, but some scouts believe there’s an opportunity for Wilson to vault into the upper echelon of this class if he can sustain this level of play.
Atlanta appears set to benefit from its decision to trade out of the 2025 draft lottery to obtain this pick from New Orleans, as the 2-12 Pelicans continue to backslide and seem likely to convey significant odds. This selection will be a luxury for the Hawks, no matter what.
The college basketball season is only a few weeks old so there is plenty of time left. But it is good to see Wilson being noticed by national analysts and scouts.
If he continues this play, he could climb even higher. It’s a loaded freshman class but North Carolina having one of the top freshmen again just feels right.
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