Caleb Wilson came into this stretch of NBA Summer League with a clear target in mind: the high-profile battles that would let him measure himself against the players drafted ahead of him. He already got one of those moments against Cameron Boozer, and he was supposed to get two more. Instead, the schedule has gone sideways on him again.
Darryn Peterson was held out on Monday, and now AJ Dybantsa is out too. The Washington Wizards have decided to shut down Dybantsa, Tre Johnson and Will Riley for the team’s final three NBA Summer League games, Wizards summer-league coach T.J.
Sorrentine told @TheAthleticNBA. Story here: https://t.co/0EUa3BSxRm
- Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) July 14, 2026
That leaves Wilson missing out on another marquee showdown, even though the matchup had real buzz around it. The Wizards clearly knew what was at stake, but they’re pulling the plug on their top young names anyway.
Wilson, though, isn’t the type to sit around waiting for the spotlight to come to him. He’s been ready for these kinds of games, the ones where he can show the teams that passed on him exactly what they missed. He already backed that up once against Boozer, beating the former Blue Devil for the second time in as many months, and he was eager to keep that momentum rolling against Peterson and Dybantsa.
Now the focus shifts to how long Wilson stays on the floor himself. The plan is for him to play at least once more on Tuesday night, but he could be close to being shut down too.
For Tar Heel fans, there is still one matchup left to watch. Wilson is set to face former UNC teammate Seth Trimble, and that gives the night at least one compelling angle after the Wizards’ decision to rest several of their key players. The two know each other well from their time together, and this will be their first pro meeting.
Wilson’s approach doesn’t change much no matter the stage. Whether it’s a gym run or a big crowd at the Dean Smith Center, he brings the same edge every time he steps on the court. And even with the Peterson and Dybantsa matchups wiped away, he’ll keep competing as long as the Bulls let him.
In Other News...
Another Serious Belichick Family Issue Just Hit North Carolina
A traffic citation involving Jen Belichick has added another off-field wrinkle around North Carolina, where the Belichick name has already been a constant source of attention. According to the available court information, she was stopped in the Leland area and cited for driving 88 mph in a 70 mph zone, then was ordered to appear before a judge on July 10.
Jen Belichick did not show up for that hearing, and the case has now moved into a more serious phase without much public clarity beyond the court record. She is the daughter-in-law of Bill Belichick and the wife of UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, which only adds to the scrutiny surrounding a program that has already spent plenty of time in the spotlight for reasons far beyond football. [Read more 🡒]
This UNC Freshman Is Suddenly In The Backcourt Conversation
Kevin Thomas arrived in Chapel Hill with a bit of recruiting intrigue already attached, having originally committed to LSU before flipping to North Carolina. Now the freshman guard is drawing attention for the kind of profile that tends to matter once the games get rolling: athletic, versatile and capable of fitting into more than one role if the Tar Heels need it.
North Carolinas backcourt is crowded enough that nothing will come easy, but Thomas has a path if his development keeps moving in the right direction. His ability to score at different levels and handle multiple defensive assignments gives him a chance to work his way into meaningful minutes, and the real question is how quickly he can separate himself in a rotation with plenty of options already in place. [Read more 🡒]
Five-Star Duke Commit Takes Fresh Shot At UNC
A recent podcast appearance from a top Duke basketball commit offered another reminder of how sharply the rivalry can shape a recruits thinking. The prospect said North Carolina is a great school, but framed his decision as one of not wanting to feel like he was passing up Duke, a line that lands differently in Chapel Hill given how often the two programs are tied together in the same recruiting battles.
For UNC, the comments are less about one player than about the broader reality of chasing elite talent against a neighbor that can sell a very specific brand of basketball identity. He acknowledged that several schools were in the mix, but the message was clear enough: in his view, choosing Duke did not come with the sense of regret or second-guessing that sometimes follows a big recruiting decision. [Read more 🡒]