Caleb Wilson is headed to the Windy City.

The Chicago Bulls selected the star UNC freshman forward with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft. Wilson is the highest-picked Tar Heel in the NBA Draft since Marvin Williams went No. 2 overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 2005.

Wilson finished his freshman season as UNC’s leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.4 per game). And despite playing in just 24 total games due to various hand injuries, Wilson still led the Tar Heels in steals (36) and finished just four blocks behind teammate Henri Veesaar for the team lead.

Even with his injuries, Wilson earned first team All-ACC and All-Freshman honors. He’s just the third Tar Heel freshman ever to make first team All-ACC, joining Antawn Jamison and Tyler Hansbrough. He was also named a second team All-American by the Associated Press, ensuring that Wilson’s No. 8 jersey will be honored in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center.

Wilson scored in double figures in each of his 24 career games with the Tar Heels, giving him the longest such streak begin a collegiate career in program history. He scored at least 20 points 17 times, which is a UNC freshman record.

Wilson is the 56th Tar Heel to be selected in the NBA Draft’s first round and ninth freshman. In total, 119 Tar Heels have been selected in the Draft, the third most of any school.

This is the second consecutive season a Tar Heel has been picked in the NBA Draft’s first round. The Hawks selected Drake Powell with the No. 22 overall pick in 2025 before moving him to the Brooklyn Nets on draft night.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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