UNC Freshman Caleb Wilson Earns Preseason All-ACC Honors

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Five-star freshman forward Caleb Wilson represented North Carolina in the ACC’s preseason awards entering the 2025-26 season.

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Wilson was named to the preseason All-ACC Second Team. He also received two votes for preseason ACC Rookie of the Year and one for preseason ACC Player of the Year.

Wilson posted averages of 21.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.6 blocks and 2.1 steals per game as a senior at Atlanta (Ga.) Holy Innocents, guiding the team to a 27-4 record and the private school state title. He earned McDonald’s All-American honors, playing in that game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Wilson was named as Georgia’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year. The 6-foot-10 forward signed a multi-year deal with New Balance during the offseason.

Many point to Wilson’s standout athleticism and defensive abilities as his best traits, and his teammates have raved about his passing as well.

“I feel like basketball is kind of positionless at this point, and especially the way I’m used in our system,” Wilson said last week about where he sees his game fitting in. “I don’t want to say I’m a four or a three, because I feel like I do so much. I feel like in whatever (is needed), I’m going to be able to do what it takes. If I’m needed to just rebound the basketball, that’s what I’ll do.

“But I think I pass the ball just like a guard. I think I rebound like a four or five and I think I’m athletic as a three, two or one. So I don’t understand putting people in positions. I just feel like you play what’s needed to happen. Basketball, to me, is a sport that’s not predictable. It’s not like football where, if you’re running back, this is all you’re doing. I can get a rebound, and I push like a guard would. So it’s hard to box myself in.”

UNC checked in third in the ACC’s predicted order of finish on Tuesday afternoon, behind Duke and Louisville at the top of the conference’s 18-team preseason poll. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 25 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.

Carolina will play two preseason exhibition games: one on the road vs. BYU on Oct. 24 and another against Winston-Salem State at home on Oct. 29. It will open the regular season against Central Arkansas on Nov. 3.

UNC went 23-14 in the 2024-25 campaign, sneaking into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed. After winning its First Four game against San Diego State, the team lost to Ole Miss 71-64 in the Round of 64.

Hubert Davis is 101-45 in his four seasons as North Carolina’s head coach.

ACC Preseason Awards

Preseason All-ACC Team
First Team

(Name, School, Votes)

Cameron Boozer, Duke, 46
Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 46
Darrion Williams, NC State, 45
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 36
Ryan Conwell, Louisville, 36

Second Team

Isaiah Evans, Duke, 24
Boopie Miller, SMU, 27
J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 27
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 24
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 24

ACC Preseason Player of the Year

Darrion Williams, NC State, 23 votes
Cameron Boozer, Duke, 19
Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 2
J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 2
Donald Hand Jr., Boston College, 1
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 1
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 1

ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year

Cameron Boozer, Duke, 43 votes
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 3
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 2
Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech, 1