Hubert Davis isn’t interested in turning Caleb Wilson’s Summer League surge into some kind of referendum on what happened at North Carolina.
With Wilson drawing plenty of attention for his strong play in the NBA Summer League, the conversation around him has started to drift into bigger territory. Some have used his early success to question whether Davis and the Tar Heels did enough to develop him, especially after Wilson said his job at North Carolina was not to shoot the three at a high level. But Davis made it clear he isn’t buying the idea that there was some sort of issue between the two sides.
Speaking during the second quarter of Chicago’s game vs. Utah on ESPN’s broadcast, per Rodd Baxley, Davis reflected on Wilson’s rise with a lot of pride.
“It was such a blessing and honor to be there to watch him get drafted. Caleb and I have known each other such a long time,” Davis said during the second quarter of Chicago’s game vs. Utah on ESPN’s broadcast, per Rodd Baxley.
He kept going from there, praising Wilson not just as a player but as a person and teammate.
“I’ve never, out of all the players I’ve been around, I’ve never been around somebody that is as good as a basketball player, but just as good as a person and as a teammate. I’m just so happy for him… “People are making a big deal - and they should - that he made seven 3s in his first preseason game,” Davis said.
That last line is the one that stands out most. Wilson’s shot-making has only added to the buzz around him, and Davis’ comments suggest he sees the same thing everyone else does: a young player who is not only talented, but competitive and easy to root for.
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Drake Powells first summer as a pro has looked a lot like the version of him that made him such an intriguing draft pick in the first place: long, explosive and disruptive on defense. The rookie taken 22nd overall has flashed the athleticism that made him a first-rounder, but his offensive game is still very much a work in progress, and that showed up again during NBA Summer League.
A recent 18-point outing offered a reminder of what Powell can do when the shot is falling, but it did not erase the bigger concern around his comfort level as a scorer. He still looks uneasy putting the ball on the floor and creating against a defender, which is why the question lingers for North Carolina fans: would another year in Chapel Hill, with a bigger role and more offensive reps, have helped him arrive in the league more ready for the next step? [Read more 🡒]
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What makes the next few weeks so interesting is that the quarterback job is still open, with Billy Edwards Jr., Travis Burgess and Miles ONeill all in the mix. However that battle settles, the Tar Heels are clearly trying to build a more dangerous aerial attack, and Humphrey looks like one of the newcomers who could help change the shape of it once camp gets going. [Read more 🡒]