It’s not very often that a true freshman comes in and makes an All-American level impact right out of the gate.
This year’s freshman class is a rare exception, as it features several top-tier talents who have taken the college basketball world by storm.
Caleb Wilson is definitely one of those new players, as the UNC basketball star continues to prove that the hype surrounding him is absolutely real.
Caleb Wilson is in a class of his own
With another double-double outing in the win over St. Bonaventure in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, Wilson achieved his fourth consecutive performance in which he recorded 10+ points to go with 10+ rebounds.
He became the first freshman in UNC basketball program history to reach this honor.
First a fresher. pic.twitter.com/WtpZUuhGLN
– Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) 26 November 2025
Yes, you read that right.
Tyler Hansbrough, arguably the greatest UNC basketball player of all time, never accomplished this feat.
Armando Bacot, the program’s all-time double-doubles and rebounding leader, never played as a freshman.
The list could go on and on about specific Tar Heels who have stood out as true freshmen, but Wilson continues to put himself in an entirely different category.
Even on nights when he isn’t as dominant offensively as he has been, Wilson is still a nightmare on both ends of the field. St. Bonaventure focused on slowing down Wilson, but there’s only so much you can do to stop him, as his impact can be felt in different aspects of any game.
Tar Heel fans know well how special Caleb Wilson is. It took just six college games for him to fully reach stardom and become one of the faces of the current college basketball season. While some will argue that other true freshmen are “better” than Wilson, the Tar Heels forward is making waves for his efforts on the court, and is continually proving that he belongs in the conversation of being considered the best the country has to offer.
Wilson has talked about his goal of hanging his No. 8 jersey in the ceiling of the Dean Smith Center. If he continues playing at this pace, that target will definitely be reached.
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