Five months after Caleb Wilson last played in a competitive game, the former UNC standout is finally back on the floor.
Wilson, the No. 4 pick of the Chicago Bulls, is set to make his Summer League debut Friday night against Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will stream on Prime Video.
The matchup carries a little extra juice because Wilson and Boozer met only once during their freshman seasons, when North Carolina beat Duke in a thriller at the Dean Dome. That lone showdown is part of why this one has drawn so much attention, even if the setting is now the NBA’s Summer League stage.
For Wilson, this is more than just another exhibition. It’s his first taste of pro action, and a chance to get back on the hardwood after a frustrating end to his college season.
He averaged nearly 20 points per game for North Carolina before injuries derailed everything. A hand injury against Miami on Feb. 10 was supposed to keep him out only until the end of the regular season, and he pushed to be ready for Duke in Durham.
Then a freak practice injury left him with a broken thumb and ended his year.
That meant Wilson never got the March Madness stage he seemed poised for, which only adds to the anticipation around Friday’s debut. Chicago fans have been waiting for this moment since the Bulls took him, and Carolina supporters have had plenty of reason to keep rooting for him too.
Boozer, meanwhile, should have plenty of motivation of his own as the rivalry gets another chapter, even if it comes in Summer League form. For college hoops fans and NBA watchers alike, it’s a matchup worth circling.
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UNC Just Got Hit With Brutal News On 5-Star Marcus Spears Jr
North Carolinas pursuit of Marcus Spears Jr. came up short in a way that stings more because the Tar Heels were in the mix for a player whose stock has only kept rising. Spears, a consensus top-10 prospect who had been viewed as one of the elite names in his class, had been on UNCs board after the staff extended him an offer, but the recruitment always carried the feel of a heavyweight battle for a player with national appeal and a long list of options.
Spears ultimately leaned toward staying close to home, and that decision leaves UNC looking elsewhere as it continues to manage a roster that is already close to full. For the Tar Heels, it is another reminder that even when they get involved early with a premier talent, the final call can still come down to fit, timing and geography, and this one never seemed to tilt in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Fans Finally Get The Caleb Wilson Moment They've Waited For
Tar Heels fans have had a busy Summer League to track, with familiar names popping up across the NBA as former North Carolina players settle into their pro routines. Henri Veesaar gave Atlanta a lift off the bench with 14 points and six rebounds in a win over San Antonio, while R.J. Davis chipped in 12 points, three assists and two steals for the Spurs, even if the box score also reflected a rough night overall for his team.
The bigger anticipation, though, is centered on Caleb Wilson, who is finally on the verge of getting back on the floor after a long layoff. Seth Trimble also made his Summer League debut for Washington, adding another Tar Heel to the leagues summer showcase, and with more UNC alumni still working through their own opportunities, this stretch has become a useful early look at how the programs recent talent is beginning to spread across the NBA. [Read more 🡒]