By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Caleb Wilson’s incredible numbers Tuesday night looked like something out of a video game: leading No. 12 North Carolina with 22 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
He became the sixth player in UNC history to record at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game and the first freshman to score 20 or more in six straight contests.
But it was his assist total, which tied his season-high, that made Wilson the most proud.
“I’ve watched so much film lately,” Wilson said. “I’ve seen they’re scouting against me heavily, probably the top of the scouting report every game. I have to make the playing field even, so I have to know what they’re going to do against me before the game comes.”
Wilson’s obsession with preparation has become a defining trait. He said he spends hours studying opponents’ tendencies and his own reads.
“I made some passes today that I thought I knew were going to be open as soon as I caught it,” he said. “I made a pass to [Jonathan Powell] in the corner when I caught it top of the key, and I knew exactly what was going to happen as soon as I caught it. It was probably somebody behind me. If I faced up, I knew that was gonna drop, so I just kicked it to him.”
Those passes weren’t just highlights — they were proof of a player who sees the game two steps ahead.
“I’ve been watching so much, trying to figure out how they guard,” Wilson said. “Just being able to pass and assist on players really just makes you feel good.”
And it makes Coach Hubert Davis feel good knowing that Wilson puts in so much time watching, as Davis said “a ton of film,” and trying to be a student of the game.
“I’ve never seen a freshman do this on his own,” Davis said. “He gets the tapes. He probably already has tape of SMU and probably has already watched games of them.”
SMU is Carolina’s next opponent, in a 2:15 p.m. Saturday game in Dallas
That preparation showed when UNC needed a spark. Florida State had cut the lead to one early in the second half, and Wilson responded with a flurry of dunks and hustle plays during an 18–3 run that put the game away.
“I want to say it’s on me,” Wilson said. “But I feel like whenever we need something that’s going to get us back going, it’s really important that I can get that done. So, I just play hard, and when I get the opportunity to show what I can do, I just do it.”
It was Wilson’s seventh game with at least 20 points and at least 10 rebounds. His 10th double-double is third all-time by a Carolina freshman behind Antawn Jamison (13 in 1995–96) and Armando Bacot (11 in 2019–20).
Wilson is the first Tar Heel since RJ Davis against Kentucky on Dec. 16, 2023, to lead UNC in points, rebounds and assists and the first freshman to do it since Cole Anthony against Florida State on Feb. 3, 2020.
He’s the first player to lead UNC in points, rebounds, assists and blocks since Bacot against Boston College on Jan. 17, 2023.
Wilson insists the accolades don’t matter as much as winning.
“I mean, it’s cool, honestly. It’s fun. But I really want to win,” he said. “If I did all this and we lost in the first round of the tournament, I wouldn’t be happy.”
For now, UNC is winning. And Wilson is leading in ways that go beyond the box score. His film study, his vision, and his relentless drive are shaping not just his game, but the Tar Heels’ identity.
Most double-doubles by UNC freshmen
13 Antawn Jamison, 1995–96
11 Armando Bacot, 2019–20
10 Caleb Wilson, 2025–26
| Date | Month/day | Time | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 24 | Friday | L, 78–76 | vs. No. 10 BYU in SLC | Exhib. |
| 29 | Wednesday | W, 95–53 | vs. Winston-Salem St. | Exhib. |
| November | ||||
| 3 | Monday | W, 94–54 | vs. Central Arkansas | 1–0 |
| 7 | Friday | W, 87–74 | vs. No. 17 Kansas | 2–0 |
| 11 | Tuesday | W, 89–74 | vs. Radford | 3–0 |
| 14 | Friday | W, 97–53 | vs. N.C. Central | 4–0 |
| 18 | Tuesday | W, 73–61 | vs. Navy | 5–0 |
| Fort Myers Tip-Off | ||||
| 25 | Tuesday | W, 85–70 | vs. St. Bonaventure | 6–0 |
| 27 | Thursday | L, 74–58 | vs. No. 9 Michigan State | 6–1 |
| December | ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge | |||
| 2 | Tuesday | W, 67–64 | at Kentucky | 7–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 81–61 | vs. Georgetown | 8–1 |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 80–62 | vs. USC Upstate | 9–1 |
| 16 | Tuesday | W, 77–58 | vs. ETSU | 10–1 |
| CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta | ||||
| 20 | Saturday | W, 71–70 | vs. Ohio State | 11–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 22 | Monday | W, 99–51 | vs. East Carolina | 12–1 |
| 30 | Tuesday | W, 79–66 | vs. Florida State | 13–1, 1–0 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 3 | Saturday | 2:15 | at SMU | The CW |
| 10 | Saturday | 6 p.m. | vs. Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 14 | Wednesday | 9 p.m. | at Stanford | ACCN |
| 17 | Saturday | 4 p.m. | at California | ACCN |
| 21 | Wednesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Notre Dame | ESPN2 |
| 24 | Saturday | 2 or 2:30 | at No. 21 Virginia | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 31 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | ACCN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | Monday | 7 p.m. | vs. Syracuse | ESPN |
| 7 | Saturday | 6:30 | vs. No. 6 Duke | ESPN |
| 10 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | at Miami | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 14 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | vs. Pittsburgh | ESPN |
| 17 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | at N.C. State | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 21 | Saturday | 1 p.m. | at Syracuse | ABC |
| 23 | Monday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 16 Louisville | ESPN |
| 28 | Saturday | 6:30 or 8:30 | vs. Virginia Tech | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| March | ||||
| 3 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Clemson | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 7 | Saturday | 6:30 | at No. 6 Duke | ESPN |
| 10–14 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament | Spectrum Center, Charlotte |
Photos by Joshua Lawton
tarheeltribune.com 