Caleb Wilson takes home 2 honors after dream 1st week for UNC and Hubert Davis

Caleb Wilson had an incredible start to his college basketball career. While you thought it couldn't get any better, more great news came for the five-star freshman forward.

In recognition of his efforts on the court, Wilson was named both the ACC Player & Rookie of the Week for the opening week of the 2025-2026 season. He becomes the first Tar Heel to win both awards in the same week since Cole Anthony accomplished the feat during the 2019-2020 season.

Against Central Arkansas, Wilson put together a debut to remember. He scored a game-high 22 points, becoming the 40th Tar Heel ever to start his first game as a freshman, leading the UNC basketball program to a double-digit victory.

Wilson's week wasn't done, as he tallied a game-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals in North Carolina's ranked victory (one in which the Tar Heels trailed by 8 at the half) over Kansas. With this outing, he became just the second Tar Heel freshman (Coby White) and fourth Tar Heel overall (with Walter Davis and Mike O'Koren) to put together this type of stat line in a single game.

Through the first two games of his college career, Wilson is averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals. What's even crazier is how well he's shooting the basketball from the floor, connecting on a staggering 81% of his shots from the floor (knocking down 17 of his first 21 attempts).

While earning the reputation as a five-star talent, it felt like the country was undervaluing Caleb Wilson leading up to the start of his freshman season. With a handful of other top-tier talents taking up the spotlight, Wilson has flown under the radar but has quickly burst onto the scene, proving those who underestimated him that he wholeheartedly deserves to be in the conversation among the best freshman (and overall players) that the country has to offer.

Look out, world. Caleb Wilson is far from done, as this is just the beginning of what looks to be the start of an incredible season for him wearing the Carolina Blue uniform.