North Carolina's standout freshman forward, Caleb Wilson, is making waves in college basketball. Named to the 2025-26 Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, Wilson joins an elite group of 30 players, including 10 freshmen, recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Wilson isn't just another name on the list; he's one of three Atlantic Coast Conference stars, alongside Duke's Cameron Boozer and Stanford's Ebuka Okorie. Hailing from Atlanta, Wilson has quickly become a key player for the Tar Heels, leading the team with impressive averages of 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. His knack for scoring is evident, having set UNC freshman records with double figures in all 24 games and 17 games scoring over 20 points.
Known for his high-flying style, Wilson leads the nation with 66 dunks. His impact is felt across the board, ranking in the top five in the ACC for scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage (.578), and double-doubles (11). Unfortunately, he's currently sidelined with a broken bone in his left hand, but his contributions have already left a mark.
The Naismith list features a range of talented players from various schools:
- Darius Acuff Jr., a dynamic freshman guard from Arkansas
- Nate Ament, a promising freshman forward at Tennessee
- Christian Anderson, a sophomore guard making strides at Texas Tech
- Flory Bidunga, a sophomore forward showcasing his skills at Kansas
- Cameron Boozer, a fellow freshman forward turning heads at Duke
- Jaden Bradley, a seasoned senior guard from Arizona
- Brayden Burries, an emerging freshman guard at Arizona
- Silas Demary Jr., a junior guard making an impact at UConn
- A.J. Dybantsa, a freshman forward with potential at BYU
- Zuby Ejiofor, a senior forward holding strong at St. John's
- Jeremy Fears Jr., a sophomore guard leading Michigan State
- Kingston Flemings, a freshman guard shining at Houston
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie, a senior guard contributing at Tennessee
- Keyshawn Hall, a senior forward at Auburn with a strong presence
- Thomas Haugh, a junior forward making waves at Florida
- Graham Ike, a graduate student forward bringing experience to Gonzaga
- Joshua Jefferson, a senior forward standing out at Iowa State
- Alex Karaban, a senior forward anchoring UConn
- Yaxel Lendeborg, a graduate student forward at Michigan
- Ebuka Okorie, a freshman guard making his mark at Stanford
- Darryn Peterson, a freshman guard with potential at Kansas
- Labaron Philon Jr., a sophomore guard at Alabama
- Pryce Sandfort, a junior forward at Nebraska
- Braden Smith, a senior guard leading Purdue
- Bennett Stirtz, a senior guard at Iowa
- Tyler Tanner, a sophomore guard at Vanderbilt
- Bruce Thornton, a senior guard showcasing talent at Ohio State
- JT Toppin, a junior forward at Texas Tech
- Keaton Wagler, a freshman guard from Illinois
Caleb Wilson's journey is just beginning, and his presence on this prestigious list is a testament to his talent and potential. As he recovers, fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how he continues to shape the future of college basketball.