It was something we all saw coming. With the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select... North Carolina's Caleb Wilson. Adam Silver made things official with the announcement, confirming the speculation that had arrived in recent weeks. And now that Wilson is on his way to Chicago, he's fired up for his future. At the same time, he won't forget about the past.
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More specifically, Wilson continues to remind everyone that his love for North Carolina and Chapel Hill isn't going anywhere. Moving forward, the Atlanta native is ready to keep putting on a show on the hardwood, but with the goal of making the UNC faithful happy as well. Shortly after he got drafted, Wilson didn't hesitate in asking fans to keep supporting him, while also taking another playful shot at the Blue Devils:
A message to Carolina faithful 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5bMbNMA1y3
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) June 24, 2026
"Tar Heels fans, I did it," Wilson said. "I went from UNC to the Bulls. You know how that gets. I'm excited. I'm always going to be a Heel for life. I'm excited for the Heels next year. I can't wait to watch us beat Duke. Go Heels, man, and watch me next year please. I'll give you a show just like I did last year."
Caleb Wilson doesn't have to worry about UNC fans continuing to support him
That's a pretty awesome message from Wilson if you ask us. First, goodness, this kid just really does not like Duke. That's not going to go away either, as Wilson bought into the rivalry even before he made his way to campus. Him saying he's a Heel for life too pulls at the heartstrings, as Wilson meant so much to the community in his lone season playing for Hubert Davis.
As for him asking people to watch him next season with the Bulls? That's something he really doesn't need to worry about. People are likely going to be fired up to buy his Chicago jersey as soon as it's available as well - that's how much Wilson has meant to everyone who loves UNC hoops.
It was pretty much expected that the Bulls were going to take him at No. 4 too, as A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer felt like locks to go in the Top 3. Chicago having to 'settle' for arguably the best athlete in the draft class in Wilson is a pretty sweet deal for the historic franchise, as Wilson will now be focused on helping the Bulls get back to the level people are used to seeing.
There are of course going to be comparisons to Michael Jordan, who also made the move from Chapel Hill to Chicago. That's not fair, as they are two completely different players. At the same time, Wilson's abilities on both ends of the floor make him an incredibly intriguing prospect, with his potential at the next level being sky-high. There will be some growing pains, sure, but all signs are pointing to Wilson being a stud in the pros, making Carolina fans proud as he undoubtedly gets ready to blossom in this next, exciting chapter of his life.
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