By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Caleb Wilson continues to inch closer to returning to action.
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis offered an encouraging update on Wilson’s recovery after the No. 18 Tar Heels’ 89–82 Saturday victory over Virginia Tech, noting tangible progress even if full contact remains off limits.
“He doesn’t have his cast on anymore,” Davis said of the hard cast. “Can’t do anything five on five, but he can do individual workouts. He can dribble, shoot, and he can do everything, just nothing on contact. So that’s a huge benefit for us.”
Wilson was wearing a softer brace on the left hand that he fractured on Feb. 10 at Miami rather than the splint he had been wearing, as he continued to put up shots before the game with his left hand supporting the ball.
For the sensational 6–10 forward and the Tar Heels, the development marks a meaningful step. Davis emphasized that although the forward is not ready for full-team action, the trajectory is positive.
“[He’s] moving in the right direction,” Davis said. “He worked out the day before the game, and just was dribbling, shooting, catching, like normal.”
With the Tar Heels now 4–1 without Wilson, the ceiling of the team when he returns looks high, considering the play of Zayden High and Jonathan Powell since Wilson suffered an injury trying to close out on a 3-point attempt by Miami guard Noam Dvorat late in the first half of that loss.
Wilson, leading the team with 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, has said he intends to be back for the game at Duke on March 7, but that will also be up to the athletic training and coaching staffs.
In the meantime, he continues to be an enthusiastic onlooker from the bench.
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Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
