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UNC Basketball Commit Now Projected to Become NBA Lottery Pick

Originally posted on North Carolina Tar Heels on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Feb 26, 2025 4:42 PM ET

Holy Innocents Episcopal School (Ga.) power forward Caleb Wilson checks in at No. 6 overall, No. 3 at his position, and No. 1 among Georgia preps on the 247Sports 2025 Composite. So, it's no surprise the top UNC basketball pledge is a projected lottery pick in ESPN's first crack at a 2026 mock draft.

NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony advertised his top 10 by way of the following social media post on Wednesday morning, forecasting Wilson to hear his name No. 8 overall to the San Antonio Spurs in roughly 16 months (following what folks presume will be a one-and-done stay in Chapel Hill).

Debut 2026 NBA mock draft: Projecting the top 10 picks, with Darryn Peterson leading a loaded group up top.

ESPN: https://t.co/d4UZYVQD8Q pic.twitter.com/oRYwR314d6
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) February 26, 2025

The UNC basketball program hasn't produced a top-10 draft pick since Coby White came off the board No. 7 overall to the Chicago Bulls following the North Carolina native's sensational one-and-done campaign for the 2018-19 Tar Heels.

Caleb Wilson, now a McDonald's All American, revealed his verbal commitment to fourth-year UNC head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels back in late January.

He joined a pair of four-star 2025 UNC pledges, both early signees, in Gonzaga College High School (D.C.) guard Derek Dixon and Davidson Day School (N.C.) guard Isaiah Denis.

This article first appeared on North Carolina Tar Heels on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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