Potential top-5 pick Wilson declares for NBA draft

North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson declared for the 2026 NBA Draft on Monday.

A consensus top-five draft pick, Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds as a freshman this past season.

"This past year has been the most fun year of my life, although it has been filled with a lot of growth and adversity," Wilson said in his announcement video. "I will always cherish this university and the people that make this place what it is."

Wilson didn't play in the NCAA Tournament after fracturing his thumb in early March, but he's expected to be cleared for the NBA's predraft process. The 6-foot-10 standout also battled a hand injury in 2025-26.

The 19-year-old led the Tar Heels in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocks per game before being sidelined.

Wilson lands with the Washington Wizards at No. 4 overall in the latest edition of theScore's NBA mock draft. Although the exact order has been debated, Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson are projected to be this year's first three picks.