The Chicago Bulls aren’t hiding how they feel about Caleb Wilson.
With media day in the books and the rookie season about to begin, the Bulls’ new head coach Tiago Splitter and team executive Bryson Graham both made it clear they’re high on the former North Carolina star after his Summer League showing.
‘‘Just like everybody in this room, we’re excited about Caleb,’’ Tiago Splitter said, per The Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘He’s a No. 4 pick, and every day he’s showing us why he’s the No. 4 pick.
Also, it’s really hard to put him on a floor or with a ceiling, to be honest. We’re going to help him be the best player he can be.
What that is, we don’t know.’’
That kind of praise matches the buzz around Wilson, who has already pushed expectations higher in Chicago.
Bryson Graham, though, also pointed to the reality of what a rookie season usually looks like.
‘‘The expectations are probably pretty high because Caleb is pretty outspoken, but internally we know it’s a season of growth and development,’’ Bryson Graham said. ‘‘We have to be OK with giving him grace this year because he’s going to have some ups and downs. There’s going to be progress, and there’s going to be some regression.”
Wilson’s game at North Carolina gave plenty of reason for optimism. He showed he can affect both ends of the floor, and he brought the kind of effort that stands out beyond the box score. There’s also the way he carries himself in the community, which only adds to the picture the Bulls are building around him.
Like any rookie, Wilson still has areas to sharpen. But the work ethic is there, and if the shot starts falling, Chicago may have something real on its hands.
In Other News...
Belichick Makes Clear What Matters Now For UNC Football
Bill Belichick said the North Carolina football programs focus right now is less about the noise around it and more about getting the operation where it needs to be. With the Tar Heels navigating investigations and personnel changes, he framed the moment as one centered on doing things the right way and addressing the areas flagged by outside counsel.
Belichick also made clear how limited his role has been in the process, saying he was only involved in answering some questions while the legal details were handled by lawyers. For North Carolina, the message was less about the headlines themselves than the work still ahead, and what the program chooses to do next in response to them. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Is Giving Tar Heel Legends A Permanent Place In Kenan
Kenan Stadium is about to get a little more reflective, with North Carolina set to unveil two permanent Hall of Fame displays during the game against Notre Dame. The new honors will recognize 12 Tar Heel legends who made their mark in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, giving UNC a more permanent way to showcase some of the biggest names in program history.
The College Football Hall of Fame display will go in the northeast corner of the stadium, while the Pro Football Hall of Famers will be featured in the southeast corner. UNC has also invited the Hall of Famers and their families for a weekend celebration that will include on-field recognition and a formal dedication during the game, turning what is already a marquee matchup into a chance to connect the current program with the standard set by its greats. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tar Heels Reunite On A Sideline UNC Fans Will Want To Follow
A familiar Carolina connection is making its way back onto a sideline worth watching. King Rice, now the head coach at Monmouth, has hired Shammond Williams as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season and beyond, bringing together two former Tar Heels whose paths have now crossed again in the coaching ranks.
Williams arrives with a long rsum that should make him an intriguing addition anywhere, including more than 20 years of professional playing experience and 13 years in college coaching. His recent stops include Denver and Old Dominion, and Rice has made no secret of his excitement about adding a former teammate to the staff, a reunion UNC fans will naturally keep an eye on even from a distance. [Read more 🡒]
