Caleb Wilson sends message at NBA Draft Combine, prepares for next step
Caleb Wilson isn’t worried about where he’s going to be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, but he has a clear message for the teams mulling over the decision to make him their pick.
“I’m gonna change their franchise. I’m gonna change the culture of their program and I’m gonna change the city, honestly,” Wilson said during an interview with ESPN2 at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
“I’m a culture changer. I did the same thing at North Carolina. … Whatever franchise chooses to draft me knows they’re gonna get a winner, knows they’re gonna get a leader and knows they’re gonna get a culture changer.”
A one-and-done star for UNC basketball, Wilson is currently projected to be a top-four pick in the draft. Following the lottery, which revealed the draft order, USA TODAY projected Wilson to be the No. 3 overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. ESPN thinks Wilson will be selected at No. 4 by the Chicago Bulls.
BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer are the consensus top-three prospects in the draft. In three games against that trio, including the preseason exhibition vs. Dybantsa, Wilson averaged 23 points, 7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks.
A 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward, Wilson always seemed to step onto the court with a chip on his shoulder. The 19-year-old Atlanta native is personable off the court, but aims to be a menace between the lines.
“I always find something to make it personally, honestly,” he said. “Just like Michael Jordan, I try my best to find something to piss me off. That’s just what I do.”
Where he’s selected in the draft could end up providing him with ample motivation moving forward. When asked if he would prefer to be on a ready-made playoff team or “the guy” from the start for a franchise, Wilson took the lob and answered with authority.
“I’d definitely choose where I can be the guy from day one. The same reason I chose North Carolina, that’s what I felt I was going to become,” Wilson said.
“I felt like it’s big when you come into something and you’re the guy. I never feel pressure. I feel like pressure is self-applied. My whole thing for myself is just to prove myself right. Every day I come in the gym, no matter what team I go on … I’m gonna prove myself right, want to prove myself right when we play.”
Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds across 24 games for the Tar Heels, but missed the final nine games of the season with a pair of hand injuries. A thumb injury that required surgery officially ended his hopes for a comeback and final run at UNC during March Madness.
“I’ve just been working as hard as I can. My season was cut short. It was definitely one of the roughest times of my life,” he said. “Learning from that and just being grateful for every opportunity that I have has just made me work as hard as I can to just get in the best shape, best conditioning to be the best basketball player I can be.”
Scouts and analysts have praised Wilson for his athleticism, motor and production, but there remain questions about his ballhandling and perimeter shooting.
“People are going to be better than you at certain points in your time, but you just have to admit it and get better,” Wilson said. “What I just did in the combine, I got better at my shooting. I’m gonna be the best athlete on the court. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to be the best player that I can be. I feel like that’s gonna be one of the best players in the world.”
While he’s excited for draft night in Brooklyn on June 23, Wilson referred to that as “just the first step.” Following the celebration of the moment, he’ll be ready to “start from scratch” with his new team.
“It’s always on to the next,” Wilson said. “Everything I did before doesn’t matter.”
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Caleb Wilson discusses NBA Draft process, what teams can expect
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