Things are clicking in Chapel Hill - and fast. After Tuesday night’s win over East Tennessee State, North Carolina sits at 10-1, and head coach Hubert Davis has a team that’s not just winning games, but turning heads in the process. The Tar Heels are playing with purpose, poise, and a growing sense of confidence, and at the heart of it all is freshman phenom Caleb Wilson.
Let’s start with the numbers. Wilson dropped 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the win, continuing a season-long trend of consistent, high-level production.
He’s averaging 19.5 points and 10.4 boards per game - not just impressive for a freshman, but elite by any standard in college basketball. And while Henri Veesaar stole the spotlight with a career-high 26 points against ETSU, Wilson’s steady dominance continues to be the engine behind UNC’s early-season surge.
What’s making Wilson stand out isn’t just the stats - it’s the way he’s doing it. He plays with a maturity beyond his years, picking his spots, staying within the flow of the offense, and making winning plays on both ends of the floor.
The game looks like it’s slowing down for him, which is rare for a player this young. He doesn’t force shots, doesn’t chase highlights.
He just plays winning basketball - and makes it look easy.
That’s why some analysts are already having serious conversations about Wilson being the best player in the country. Over at The Field of 68, they’re not just tossing around praise - they’re putting him in the national player of the year conversation.
One analyst even floated the idea that Wilson might be the best player in college basketball right now. Another has him pegged as the No. 2 overall pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
That kind of buzz doesn’t come out of nowhere. Wilson was a massive recruiting win for Davis and his staff, and so far, he’s exceeding even the highest expectations.
What makes it all the more impressive? He’s doing it with humility.
There’s no ego in his game. Just effort, consistency, and a quiet confidence that’s contagious.
North Carolina, now ranked No. 14 in the country, is starting to look like a team that could make a serious run. The non-conference slate has gone mostly according to plan, and a big road test against Ohio State looms.
After that, the real grind begins - ACC play. That’s when we’ll really see what this team is made of, and Wilson will be key to how far they can go.
The Tar Heels are winning games they’re supposed to win, and doing it with a mix of veteran leadership and youthful firepower. Wilson’s emergence gives them a true go-to guy - someone who can tilt the floor, control the glass, and rise to the moment when needed.
As the schedule toughens, he’ll need to keep elevating his game. But if what we’ve seen so far is any indication, he’s more than ready for the spotlight.
So, is Caleb Wilson one of the best players in college basketball right now? The numbers say yes.
The eye test says yes. And if he keeps playing like this, the rest of the country won’t be able to ignore it much longer.