The age of social media makes it hard to tune out the noise. Young players can’t help but see the hype surrounding them…or lack there of. Caleb Wilson was one of those guys. Despite being a McDonald’s All-American and five-star prospect, Wilson’s name wasn’t mentioned as much as his contemporaries at the beginning of the season and he had no problem talking about it.
“I feel like I’ve been disrespected in polls,” Caleb told us after the Tar Heels’ win over Kansas in early November. “People telling me I’m not a top-three freshman in the ACC, so I’m just going to keep going out here and killing people. I’ve got a list on my phone and it’s nowhere near done.”
And he has lived up to everything he said.
Wilson leads the Tar Heels in scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounds, steals, free
throws (made and attempted) and blocks and is second in assists (five off the lead) and field goal percentage. His scoring average of 19.9 points per game is on pace to set the UNC freshman record. He has scored 20 or more points 14 times, including a season-high 26-point performance at Stanford. His 14 20-point games have already tied Tyler Hansbrough for UNC’s single-season rookie record.
Caleb Wilson made the college basketball world, who he felt slighted him heading into the season, take notice. But as Wilson’s accolades began to pile up, including being named to the watch lists for the John R Wooden National Player of the Year award and the National Defensive Player of the Year, the freshman’s focus began to change. Now instead of it being about others, it’s about him.
“I’ve actually stopped trying to look at my phone and try to focus on myself. I feel like at the beginning of the year I was out to prove everyone wrong. It’s kind of changed for me. I’m trying to prove myself right now. Every game I go out I just have fun and try to play. Eventually everybody is going to be on your side if you win it. It’s just how it is.”
Wilson and the Tar Heels (16-4 overall, 4-3 ACC) return to action on Saturday, January 31, at Georgia Tech. Tip time is 2 p.m. on the ACC Network
