The confetti falls in the Inside the NBA Studio after Caleb Wilson announces his UNC commitment. (Photo: TNT)
Nearly a year ago, just hours after celebrating in the locker room with the 2023-24 North Carolina team following its rivalry win over Duke, Caleb Wilson returned home and talked about his official visit to Chapel Hill. During the trip, he put on a Carolina uniform for the first time, something he said he wanted to do “literally my whole life.”
As the days since that night turned into weeks and months, and winter turned to spring to summer to fall and to winter again, the chances of Wilson playing at Carolina changed many times over. UNC led, then it didn’t. It was on the verge of being out of the recruitment, until it wasn’t.
In the end though, the pull to Carolina — and his relationship with Hubert Davis — was too much for the 6-foot-9 Atlanta (Ga.) Holy Innocents star forward to pass up. Later this year, he’ll once again put on a UNC jersey, but this time he’ll be wearing it in a game as a freshman forward for the Tar Heels.
Late Thursday night, during TNT’s famed “Inside the NBA” studio show with Ernie Johnson, former UNC All-American Kenny Smith, and basketball Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, Wilson announced his commitment to Carolina.
“I just looked at who the coach was, I was able to build a good relationship with him, looking at the roster and also just seeing how much the coach believed in me over the time he knew me,” Wilson said on the show.
“… I’ll be taking my talents to Chapel Hill.”
The No. 9-ranked overall player in the class of 2025 by 247Sports, Wilson is the fourth top 15 player to commit to the Tar Heels under Davis, alongside UNC freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, and UNC sophomore Elliot Cadeau. Carolina has now received top 15 commitments from players in three consecutive high school classes (2023-25), the first time it’s happened in Chapel Hill since 2018-2020 (Nassir Little, Cole Anthony, Caleb Love).
“I play with extreme effort and passion,” Wilson told 247Sports of his abilities. “I can defend the best player, no matter what position they play. I can play multiple positions offensively and defensively. I’m a willing passer, and I make good decisions. Also, I’m a leader, most importantly, first and foremost. I’m always looking to get better.”
Wilson joins Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga guard Derek Dixon and Davidson (N.C.) Day guard Isaiah Denis as UNC commitments in the senior class. He picked the Tar Heels over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, UCF, and USC, among others.
“(Wilson) makes for an impactful two-way player,” said 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham. “He’s got great size, length, and is a good mover for the position. Offensively, he can impact the game as a face-up scorer who can attack off the bounce, make shots inside 18 feet and finish above the rim. He’s an underrated passer for the position as well, but does need to continue improving his jumper from three.”
After averaging 20.8 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.4 blocks as a junior at Holy Innocents, Wilson put up 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds on the EYBL circuit and then raised his game to the tune of 17.3 points (on 62% FG) and 7.0 rebounds en route to a Peach Jam title with Nightrydas Elite. This season, he’s averaging 24 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 2.5 steals per game. Last week, he collected his 1,000th-career rebound.
At Carolina, Wilson will slot as a hybrid forward – a player capable of manning the ‘4’ and ‘3’ positions in Hubert Davis’ system, although he could also see time guarding any player on the opposition.
“That’s one of the best parts about him, he can play multiple positions,” a source close to the Carolina program told Inside Carolina. “He’s an elite talent. “He’s versatile (and) an excellent defensive player. He’s a good rebounder and continues to get better. He’s also an awesome kid.”
Wilson jumped onto the UNC radar 21 months ago during the 2023 spring evaluation period. His combination of athleticism, skill, and size already made for a tantalizing prospect, but his drive and intensity differentiated him from many of his counterparts. A source close to the Carolina program likened his overall demeanor and tenor to that of UNC freshman Drake Powell. The Carolina staff watched Wilson on the EYBL circuit for multiple years, at USA mini-camps and tryouts, and with his high school.
Caleb Wilson (Photo: Nike EYBL)
He was originally set to visit UNC in November 2023, the same weekend as 2025 forward Koa Peat, but he canceled a few days before the trip. The cancelation was seen as a sign he wasn’t serious about North Carolina. Two months later, he officially visited Chapel Hill along with eventual Kentucky signee Jasper Johnson, for UNC’s rivalry win over Duke. Over the next few months, Carolina maintained contact and consistently recruited Wilson as other schools began to – at least in the eyes of many – pull in front the Tar Heels.
UNC assistant Brad Frederick, who served as Wilson’s lead recruiter, made countless visits and evaluation trips to see Wilson and his family in Atlanta. A September 2024 in-home visit which Wilson’s father, Jerry Wilson, called “amazing” was the catalyst for a 2nd visit to Chapel Hill in October. Even with the trips and visits, Kentucky was still considered the leader by national reporters heading into the holiday season.
The tide seemed to turn, however, when Davis and Frederick conducted another in-home visit with Wilson and his family on Dec. 11 – the same day UNC football announced its hiring of legendary coach Bill Belichick. A source familiar with Wilson’s recruitment told Inside Carolina that was the point the Tar Heels took a lead in the chase for Wilson that it wouldn’t relinquish. Since then, Wilson has had regular communication with UNC signees Dixon and Denis.
“That’s my guy,” Denis told Inside Carolina about Wilson. “He knows how to play alongside other good players and he proved that playing with the Nightrydas this past AAU season. I’m excited to play with him.”
Added Dixon: “I think he fits with my game really well. He’s really good, he’s a versatile player who can guard multiple positions. He has great size and athleticism but is also skilled and versatile on offense too.”
