Caleb Wilson Out for Season
UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson — a projected top-10 NBA draft pick averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds — will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his thumb in a non-contact dunking drill at practice. The injury adds to a growing list of season-ending injuries affecting top college basketball players including JT Toppin and Richie Saunders.
The injury to Caleb Wilson occurred just as he was nearing a return from a separate injury to his left hand, which he sustained in a game against Miami on February 10. He had already missed six games and was cleared for individual workouts, with coach Hubert Davis indicating he was increasing his activity in practice. The new injury, a broken right thumb, happened during a non-contact dunking drill on Thursday, March 5, and will require surgery. During Wilson's six-game absence for the initial injury, North Carolina managed a 5-1 record. Forwards Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High have seen increased playing time, with High averaging 12.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in the first three games Wilson missed. Senior guard Seth Trimble also stepped up, scoring a career-high 30 points in a win over Louisville. The loss of top players to season-ending injuries is a significant storyline in the current college basketball season. Texas Tech lost their star junior forward, JT Toppin, to a torn ACL in a game against Arizona State on February 17. Toppin was a leading candidate for national player of the year, averaging nearly 22 points and 11 rebounds. BYU has also been significantly impacted, losing senior guard Richie Saunders to a torn ACL on Valentine's Day against Colorado. This was a major blow to the Cougars, as they had already lost another senior guard, Dawson Baker, to a season-ending ACL injury earlier in the season. Despite the season-ending injury, Caleb Wilson's NBA draft stock is not expected to be significantly impacted. He is still projected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. He is expected to be cleared for basketball activities during the pre-draft process. Without Wilson, UNC's prospects for a deep run in the ACC and NCAA tournaments are diminished. The Tar Heels lose their leading scorer and rebounder, who was a consistent offensive force, scoring 20 or more points in 17 of his 24 games. The team will now rely more heavily on junior center Henri Veesaar and will need continued production from their role players. Wilson took to Instagram to express his disappointment, calling the injuries "freak accidents." He thanked the university and its fans for what he described as "one of the most amazing experiences and times in my life."
