The lifelong dream is now officially a reality for Caleb Wilson.
It didn't take long for Wilson to hear his name called in the 2026 NBA Draft, landing with a team that many projected him to go to.
Let's keep the Chapel Hill to Chicago pipeline alive, shall we?
Caleb Wilson drafted No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bulls
As many mock drafts projected, Wilson was selected with the No. 4 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. He becomes the first Tar Heel to be selected within the top five picks since 2005, a year in which the Tar Heels had two top-five selections and four lottery picks following their national championship season.
No. 4 overall pick 🗣️@CalebWilson2025 ➡️ @chicagobulls pic.twitter.com/Fg920oCS2K
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) June 24, 2026
After a few years without a first round selection, the UNC basketball program has now made it consecutive seasons in which a former Tar Heel heard their name called over the first 30 picks. Drake Powell was selected with the No. 22 overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in last year's draft, snapping UNC's four-year drought without a first round selection.
What a year it was in Chapel Hill
Even though he was limited to just 24 games due to injury, Wilson made an incredible mark on the UNC basketball program in just a short period of time. In fact, you could easily make the case that Wilson's freshman season was the best we've ever seen from someone wearing the Carolina Blue uniform.
During the 2025-2026 season, Wilson set new UNC freshman records for highest scoring average (19.8 points per game), most consecutive games to begin a career with in double figures (24), and 20-point games (17). He becomes the first UNC basketball player ever to lead the team in points, rebounds, and assists per game as a freshman, which goes to show you just how productive he was when he was on the floor in all aspects of the game.
Wilson's No. 8 jersey will hang in the Dean Smith Center rafters for years to come, an honor he earned when he was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press. If he wasn't injured, there's a very strong case that he would've been a consensus first-team selection given how dynamic a player he was at the college ranks.
Wilson and Tyler Hansbrough are the only two freshmen in UNC basketball history to qualify to have their jersey honored by the historic program.
What are the Chicago Bulls getting in Caleb Wilson?
It's very simple: the Chicago Bulls are getting a franchise-changing player in Caleb Wilson.
Not only is he a young man who is going to do whatever he can to win games on the court, he will go above and beyond to ensure that he makes his mark on the city he's playing in as well. He didn't just come to Chapel Hill to dunk basketballs: he truly embraced being a Tar Heel and everything the University of North Carolina stands for, as he simply made a lasting impression during his lone year on campus.
Pre-draft Caleb Wilson quote reminds UNC fans how easy he is to root for
His talent, work ethic and drive to win will help him sustain a long career in the NBA, but his personality and demeanor is what will make fans absolutely love him both on and off the court.
We're thrilled that UNC played a small chapter in what will end up being an incredible basketball career for Caleb Wilson.
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