Caleb Wilson is a highly touted prospect in the 2026 NBA draft, and the North Carolina freshman recently earned high praise from ESPN analyst Jay Williams.
Wilson was a consensus second-team All-American selection, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 57.8% from the field. He set the freshman program records for scoring average and 20-point games (17).
The 6-foot-10 forward is projected to be a top-five pick on June 23 because of his overall offensive versatility and ability to defend multiple positions. Williams, speaking on “Get Up” on Monday, offered a lofty comparison for Wilson.
Caleb Wilson, watching him work out, has shown the ability to put the ball down on the ground. When I first saw him this year, I was like, ‘The bar is Jermaine O’Neal; the ceiling is Kevin Garnett.’ Now, when I watch him play, the bar seems like it is Kevin Garnett; the ceiling seems more like Giannis (Antetokounmpo). It feels like that’s where his ceiling could be.
“Now when I watch [Caleb Wilson] play, … the bar seems like Kevin Garnett, the ceiling seems more like Giannis.” 👀@RealJayWilliams believes that Caleb Wilson can be the best NBA player out of the draft 😳 pic.twitter.com/UXiBxMIzAI
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 11, 2026
Wilson flourished with the ball in his hands in the open court and was a force in the paint with his athleticism and size. He also has the physical traits that could enable him to succeed at the next level, boasting a reported 7-foot, 1/4-inch wingspan.
The 19-year-old was limited to 24 games with the Tar Heels after suffering a broken left hand in a loss to Miami on Feb. 10. He then broke his right thumb while dunking during a practice on March 5, which ruled him out of the remainder of the season.
Wilson is expected to draw interest from several teams as a high draft pick. While we won’t know exactly what type of player he can develop into over the course of his career, the future appears to be bright for Wilson as a potential franchise-changing prospect.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Caleb Wilson: ESPN analyst offers lofty comparison for All-American