By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Caleb Wilson keeps turning the rim into his personal target, and Monday night was another reminder of why he’s the leading dunker in the country.
In No. 12 North Carolina’s 99-51 victory over East Carolina, Wilson rose above defenders five more times, each slam punctuating a night that pushed his national-leading dunk total to 41.
Some dunks came in transition, others in traffic, but all carried the same message: when Wilson gets anywhere near the basket, gravity seems optional.
“If I’m inside, if I’m on the ACC logo, I’m trying to dunk it,” said Wilson, who collected 21 points and 12 rebounds for his ninth double-double, the third-most by a freshman in program history. “Really, if I look somebody in the eyes before I dunk, or before I’m about to go, I’m about to try to dunk it.”
That aggression sometimes leads to misses, like the one he had Monday, but Wilson shrugged it off, saying he’s just out there having fun.
“There’s been a couple like that,” he said. “If they go in or not, I just live with it.”
Wilson, who ties Phil Ford’s record of 20 points in five consecutive games, admitted that his determination to posterize defenders can even cost him easy points.
“Sometimes I miss a layup because I’m already thinking I’m about to dunk on this dude,” Wilson said. “And then I did that today. I was literally thinking about a dunk on him. I wanted to dunk it so bad.”
Wilson’s approach isn’t reckless — it’s calculated confidence. A game like Monday’s against East Carolina, which the Tar Heels controlled early, was different.
“In like a real close game, I’m not gonna mess up,” he said. “That’s kind of how I feel. I was out there trying to have fun. I really wanted to jump on that dude.”
His physicality drew extra attention from ECU, which is becoming routine with Wilson at the top of all scouting reports. Wilson took his already intense demeanor up a few notches after the officials called him for a flagrant foul as he battled for position under the boards.
“He was hooking me,” Wilson said. “I just tried to get him off me. I don’t want to hurt my shoulder or anything like that. So, I just slung. I was kind of pissed off about it. But, honestly everybody is going to try to throw whatever they can at me. So, just another chapter.”
Wilson’s dunking dominance is more than entertainment — it’s a weapon for UNC’s offense. His ability to finish above the rim fuels transition and energizes teammates.
“We’ve had some bad starts,” Wilson said. “We know how serious it’s getting and just had to approach the game in the right way.”
That approach produced a wire-to-wire blowout and another night of rim-rattling jams from a freshman who plays with joy and force. For Wilson, the formula is simple: see the space, attack and dunk — no matter who’s in the way.
20-point games by UNC freshmen
Tyler Hansbrough, 2005–06 — 14
Rashad McCants, 2002–03 — 12
Phil Ford, 1974–75 — 10
Caleb Wilson, 2025–26 — 9
Cole Anthony, 2019–20 — 9
Joseph Forte, 1999–2000 — 9
Double-doubles by UNC freshmen
13 — Antawn Jamison, 1995–96
11 — Armando Bacot, 2019–20
9 — Caleb Wilson, 2025–26
9 — J.R. Reid, 1986–87
9 — Sam Perkins, 1980–81
Tar Heel duo double-doubles
John Henson and Tyler Zeller 2011–12 — 9
Rusty Clark and Larry Miller 1966–67 — 8
Pete Brennan and Lennie Rosenbluth 1955–56 — 7
Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson, 2025–26 — 6 (N.C. Central, St. Bonaventure, Kentucky, Georgetown, Ohio State and ECU)
Phil Ford and Mitch Kupchak 1975–76 — 6
Lee Dedmon and Charlie Scott 1969–70 — 6
Brennan and Rosenbluth 1956–57 — 6
Brennan and Joe Quigg 1956–57 — 6
Photo courtey of UNC Athletics Communications
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