Top 10 prospect Caleb Wilson commits to UNC over Kentucky

Top-10 senior Caleb Wilson, one of the highest-ranked uncommitted prospects remaining in the 2025 class, announced Thursday that he has chosen to attend North Carolina over Kentucky.

Wilson, No. 6 in the ESPN 100, also included Ohio State in his final three schools.

“I chose North Carolina because of their culture and the history of the program,” Wilson told ESPN. “It was my first blue blood offer. Last year I went to watch Duke in a UNC game. I was on the field and it was a great experience. That was all I was looking for in a program.”

The 6-foot-9 Wilson has had a long and drawn-out recruitment with several schools looking like the favorites along the way. John Calipari made Wilson a priority early on while at Kentucky, then continued to pursue him once he moved to Arkansas. As Wilson’s recruiting progressed, Kentucky and North Carolina moved to the next level, while Tennessee, UCF, Georgia Tech and others faded.

The Wildcats and Tar Heels seemed to go back and forth in recent weeks, but UNC coach Hubert Davis was able to close out his first five-star recruit of the cycle. This is a crucial recruiting victory for Davis, who previously missed out on top targets AJ Dybantsa (No. 1), Braylon Mullins (No. 25) and others.

“I love coach Hubert Davis’ passion and energy,” Wilson said. “I know he will push me to do my best and love myself at the same time. He tells the truth, and that’s what I want. We watched a movie together. He tells me where I can be best. He’s a man of faith, and we have a great connection. He plays against his freshmen too. I plan to help UNC win and win big. I hope I can have a chance to be unique.

Wilson has been considered one of the elite frontcourt prospects in the 2025 class over the past two years. He averaged 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists on the Nike EYBL circuit as a junior, then followed that up by teaming with Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer on Nightrydas Elite to win a Peach championship Jam last summer. He was terrific in the Peach Jam, averaging 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in eight games while shooting 62 percent from the field.

Wilson’s most obvious attributes are his length, explosiveness and vertical rebound with a quick second jumper. His skills with the ball in transition and in the half court have improved over the past year, while his agility to move in any direction is a major asset and has improved his ability to score in space crowded. He is effective as a ball cutter due to his footwork, quickness and movement. What makes him a matchup problem is his ability to step out, make 3s, and handle the ball to keep defenses honest, while also becoming a willing and visionary passer. On the other end of the court, Wilson is a switchable defender who can stay in front of the ball or defend the low post.

The Tar Heels now have three ESPN 100 prospects in their 2025 recruiting class, with Wilson joining four-star guards Derek Dixon and Isaiah Denis. Davis and his team could have a busy offseason, as RJ Davis is ineligible and freshmen Drake Powell and Ian Jackson are projected as first-round NBA draft picks.

Carolina is in trouble for the second time in three seasons, losing its last two games against Stanford and Wake Forest to fall to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in the ACC heading into Saturday’s game against Boston College.