Caleb Wilson didn’t have to wait long to answer the question hanging over his game.
After a standout season at North Carolina, the former Tar Heel entered the 2026 NBA Draft with plenty of buzz - and one obvious point of doubt. People wanted to know whether he could really shoot it from the outside, or whether his damage would stay confined to the paint and mid-range, where he did most of his work in college.
That concern made sense. At UNC, Wilson didn’t need to force the issue from deep.
He was at his best attacking the rim, getting to his spots in the post and finishing over defenders. When you can drive through traffic and dunk on people’s heads, there’s not much reason to settle for jumpers.
But NBA Summer League changed the conversation fast.
On the podcast Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, McGrady said he had been among the skeptics when it came to Wilson’s perimeter game. He wanted to see whether the shot would hold up with real consistency, especially from long range. Then Wilson went out and started making him a believer.
"The kid (Caleb Wilson) is talented. There's no question about that," McGrady said.
"He has to be able to shoot the ball. That was my question about him.
Can he shoot? Well, in a Summer League game, I think it was his first one, he hit seven threes.
Once I see that very thing that I questioned you about, and you made that your strong suit now, and you worked on it, and I see that there's some consistency with that, oh, yeah, he is gonna be a problem."
Wilson’s college numbers explain why the outside shot was such a mystery. He took just 27 three-pointers all season at North Carolina, and both he and the Tar Heels leaned into what worked best: getting him deep position and letting him punish defenses that sent double teams, and sometimes even triple teams, his way.
Still, the work was happening behind the scenes. Wilson kept grinding on every part of his game, including his range, and that showed up quickly in Summer League. His debut was enough to quiet the noise, as he knocked down seven threes - the same number he made across 24 games at UNC.
That’s the part that should make the league take notice. If Wilson already has that shot tucked away, there may be even more to uncover once his rookie season begins. And if McGrady’s read is right, the warning has already been delivered: Caleb Wilson is going to be a problem.
In Other News...
UNC Camp Opens With A Stunning Belichick Era Shakeup
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Lombardi arrived in Chapel Hill ahead of the 2025 season on a three-year deal and quickly became one of the central figures in Bill Belichicks college transition, bringing a long NFL background with him. His role had already made him a prominent voice in the Tar Heels rebuilding effort, so the timing of this move leaves a major question hanging over a staff that was supposed to be settling into its next phase. [Read more 🡒]
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UNC football is dealing with another off-field jolt after the university placed general manager Michael Lombardi on administrative leave following a human resources complaint from a former employee. The move adds another layer of uncertainty around a program that has already been navigating scrutiny beyond the field, and it comes at a time when the Tar Heels are trying to stabilize a football operation built around a high-profile new structure.
Bill Belichick remains under contract as head coach, but the timing only sharpens the stakes around his first season in Chapel Hill. UNC is also under investigation by the College Sports Commission, the group that oversees NCAA compliance tied to revenue sharing and NIL deals, and the program now has multiple fronts to manage as questions swirl around its football leadership and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Another Belichick Era Problem Just Hit UNC Before Opening Week
North Carolinas football reset under Bill Belichick was already carrying plenty of pressure before the opening week arrived, and the program has now been forced to deal with another distraction off the field. The Tar Heels are trying to stabilize a roster and build momentum after last seasons 4-8 finish, while also selling a new direction on the recruiting trail, where the 2027 class is sitting in the middle of the pack.
Mike Lombardis status adds another layer of uncertainty to a staff that was supposed to project order and urgency. The investigation is still ongoing, and with the season about to begin, UNC is left navigating both the optics and the practical questions of how this affects the structure around Belichick in the short term and beyond. [Read more 🡒]