Caleb Wilson is building a real case as the best freshman in UNC basketball history

When you sit back and think about what Caleb Wilson accomplished during non-conference play, it's actually insane.

Wilson wasted no time taking the college basketball world by storm. He's played a significant role in the UNC basketball program's 12-1 record through non-conference play, as every performance of his seems to put him among the greatest to ever play at North Carolina.

With ACC play set to begin this week, Wilson still has plenty of basketball left during his true freshman season. Of course, it's widely projected that Wilson is NBA bound after the season, given he's played his way into being viewed as a consensus top-five pick among this elite-level draft class.

Before conference play even begins, Wilson has put himself in a position to potentially shatter a UNC freshman record before its all said and done.

Double-Double Machine

Through 13 games, Wilson has recorded 9 double-doubles. That essentially means that Wilson has recorded a double-double in nearly 70% of the games he's played at the college level, a pace that will be difficult to keep up but seems to be very possible for a player of his caliber.

If he continues at this pace, he will absolutely shatter the UNC basketball program's previous record for double-doubles by a UNC freshman.

The UNC basketball program shared this eye-popping graphic, which shows where Wilson's double-doubles rank among other UNC basketball legends. Halfway through the 2025-2026 season, Wilson already tied Sam Perkins and J.R. Reid for the third-most by a true freshman, and is close to moving up the list even more.

Wilson will need three double-doubles the rest of the way to surpass Armando Bacot for second-place on the list, and can tie Antawn Jamison at the top of this list with four more double-double efforts. If he can record five or more double-doubles through conference play (and postseason action), the Atlanta, Georgia native could firmly cement himself at the top of the list.

It's actually insane to think about just how good Caleb Wilson has been right out of the gate. He continues to do things that we haven't seen from a UNC basketball freshman, as every time he steps on the floor, it feels like he finds ways to put himself in the category amongst some of the legends who have played for this historic program.

Enjoy it now while it's here, because we might just be experiencing the best overall season by a true freshman in UNC basketball history.