By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — The ball slipped away for a split second, but Caleb Wilson wasn’t about to let that stand.
Midway through the first half of North Carolina’s 95–54 exhibition win on Wednesday over Winston-Salem State, the freshman forward had the rim in his sights when the Rams’ Masaun Bryant swiped at the ball, knocking it loose.
Wilson snatched it back, gathered himself and launched a violent dunk over Winston-Salem State’s Abou Camara on a baseline drive that rattled the basket and sent the Smith Center crowd into a frenzy.
“Usually when I dunk on somebody, I look them in their face,” Wilson said near the Smith Center tunnel after the game, smiling at the memory. “They make a decision to jump — that’s when I do it. The first time, I was about to power dunk, but he got a piece of it on my arm. Once I got it back, I knew it was time to finish.”
That moment wasn’t just a highlight. It was a statement. Wilson, a 6–10, 215-pound five-star freshman with a wingspan that seems to stretch from the UNC campus to Carrboro, spent the Tar Heels’ two exhibition games proving he’s more than hype. He’s a force.
Wilson delivered the kind of performances that make coaches grin and opponents groan. He attacked the glass, ran the floor, imposed his will in the paint and played defense with a passion. His numbers reflected it: double figures in scoring, double-digit rebounds, and a defensive presence that sparked transition opportunities.
He followed up a 22-point, 10-rebound performance against BYU with more than a point a minute against the Rams with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in 22½ minutes.
“I feel good,” said Wilson, who blocked three shots in both games. “I’m still a freshman, still learning. But 20 and 10 is my goal every game. As long as I get that, I feel like I did somewhat OK.”
Somewhat OK? That probably understates his performances.
The learning curve is real, with turnovers and slow start, the points of emphasis after UNC’s first exhibition, but Wilson’s response was telling.
When Hubert Davis challenged his team at halftime to “be some dogs” after a choppy first half and only a 13-point lead against a Division II team, Wilson answered with aggression and energy.
Wilson’s rise hasn’t happened in isolation. His chemistry with junior Estonian center Henri Veesaar has been an intriguing preseason storyline. Together, they’ve formed a high-low tandem that gives UNC size, skill, and options.
“It’s really jelling,” Wilson said. “Henri is a great player. I’ve always been the tallest guy on the court, so learning how to play with a seven-footer is something I’m getting used to. I’ve got to learn how to throw lobs, make good bounce passes, and give him the ball.”
For Davis, that connection is gold.
“To be early in the season, they really have a chemistry where it feels like they’ve played together for a couple of years,” Davis said. “They feed off each other. When I separate them in practice, they look like they’re about to cry because they want to be on the same team again.”
Beyond the X’s and O’s, Davis says Veesaar’s experience has been invaluable for Wilson, who Thursday was named one of 20 players on the watch list for the Karl Malone Award, which goes to the nation’s top power forward.
“One of the things that’s really beneficial to Caleb is having that chemistry with an experienced player who talks to him on the court, shows him how to prepare, and how hard you have to practice to be successful,” Davis said. “It doesn’t matter how talented you are — you need older players to teach you. Henri’s done a nice job of that.”
Wilson knows the exhibitions were just the prelude. The real season begins Monday with the 7 p.m. opener against Central Arkansas, and he’s ready.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I’ve been preparing for this for months. As long as I keep doing what I’m doing, keep getting better day by day, I feel like I’ll have a great year.”
If the preseason games are any indication, UNC fans might feel the same way. That dunk? It wasn’t just two points. It was a warning: Caleb Wilson has arrived.
UNC schedule
| Date | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) |
|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |
| 9 | 7 p.m. Friday, ACCN | vs. USC in Greensboro |
| 18 | 5 p.m. Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis |
| 27 | 7:30 Tuesday, ACCN Extra | vs. Charlotte |
| November | Regular season | |
| 2 | Monday | vs. Western Carolina |
| 6 | Friday | vs. Wofford |
| 10 | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming |
| 13 | Friday | vs. Georgia |
| 20 | Friday | vs. Marshall |
| 23 | Monday | vs. Monmouth |
| 27 | Friday, 7 p.m. | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte |
| December | ||
| 1 | Tuesday, 7:30, ESPN2 | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas |
| 6 | Sunday | vs. Butler |
| 12 | Saturday afternoon | at Georgetown |
| 15 | 7 p.m. Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro |
| 19 | 2:30 Saturday, CBS | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York |
| 21 | Monday | vs. The Citadel |
| 30 | Wednesday | vs. California |
| January | ||
| 2 | Saturday | at Boston College |
| 5 | 7 p.m. Tuesday | at Louisville |
| 9 | Saturday | vs. N.C. State |
| 13 | Wednesday | at Florida State |
| 16 | Saturday | vs. Stanford |
| 19 | Tuesday | vs. No. 17 Virginia |
| 23 | Saturday | at Syracuse |
| 26 | Tuesday | vs. SMU |
| 30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. |
| February | ||
| 2 | Tuesday | at Notre Dame |
| 6 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech |
| 8 | Monday, 7 p.m, ESPN | vs. Louisville |
| 13 | Saturday, 5:30, ABC | at No. 4 Duke |
| 20 | Saturday | at Wake Forest |
| 22 | Monday, 7 p.m, ESPN | vs. No. 24 Miami |
| 27 | Saturday | at Virginia Tech |
| March | ||
| 2 | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh |
| 6 | Saturday | vs. No. 4 Duke |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
