Caleb Wilson

[King Ken]

Elite prospect. Him and Kingston Flemings would be running away with the 1st overall pick is most drafts but not this one. Insane how good both of these freshman are.

I cannot think of many drafts where either would be running away with first overall, especially Flemings, except for 2024 in recent memory.

2012 would be close for Wilson and Flemings
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019 Close.
2020
2021
2022
2023 Wemby by a mile
2024
2025 would be close with Flagg

Flemings would NOT be 1st overall for me
2012
2016 Would be tough. But Flemings would have the edge over Simmons
2018 Ayton would be tough over Flemings. Ayton seemed like a sure thing as at least a quality starter at the 5 as a prospect and possibly a star. Flemings ceiling is higher but Ayton assumed floor would win out.
2019 Zion would go ahead of Flemings but would Ja. I don't think so.
2021 Flemings is better than Cade as a prospect but I would think about it.
2023, hell naw. WEMBY!
2025. I'll probably go Cooper Flagg over Flemings.

[JustBuzzin]

Chris Bosh 2.0

[Chi town]

I like him more than Boozer. Higher ceiling due to his athleticism and mindset.

[Caneman786]

Caleb Wilson is also a stellar scorer, similar to Cameron Boozer. See this post I made on Boozer's thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2396992&start=180#p120299947

You can look at every single one of these numbers and apply that same logic to Caleb Wilson, who is getting 19.9 PPG on 65.2% True Shooting.

The only caveat here is Caleb Wilson is exactly one year older than Boozer. They share the same birthday, but Wilson was born in 2006 and Boozer was born in 2007.

Cameron Boozer is an amazing scorer. Some numbers to watch on and contextualize.

Cameron Boozer, over the first 8 games of the season, has gone 8-0. He has scored 183 points on 66.8% TS%. 22.9 points per game while playing 29.0 minutes per game.

In college, scoring 20 points a game puts you in elite company. Even more so when you are a freshman.

In all of Division 1 College Basketball in the United States, there have only been 14 players who have averaged 20 points per game as freshmen over the last 10 years.

Shooting 60% true shooting also puts you in elite company in college. In college, the average true shooting levels have hovered from 54% to 55% over the last ten years, so it means that you are roughly shooting at 10% above league average.

For reference, what this (shooting 10% above league average) looks like in the NBA as of last season, 2025, is a true shooting percentage of around 64%. The players closest to this level in 2025 were Ivica Zubac, Jakob Poeltl, Zach LaVine, Obi Toppin, Kevin Durant, Ty Jerome, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Of our 14 college players who, as freshmen, averaged 20 point per game, only three of them were able to score with a true shooting percentage of 60% or higher:

Duke's Zion Williamson in 2020, who scored 22.6 PPG on 70.2% True Shooting.
Duke's Marvin Bagley III in 2018, who scored 21.0 PPG on 64.3% True Shooting.
Arizona's Deandre Ayton in 2018, who scored 20.1 PPG on 65.0% True Shooting.

Recent top 5 picks who were college freshmen for context:

Duke's Cooper Flagg in 2025, who scored 19.2 PPG on 59.3% True Shooting.
Rutgers' Dylan Harper in 2025, who scored 19.4 PPG on 58.6% True Shooting.
Baylor's VJ Edgecombe in 2025, who scored 15.0 PPG on 55.2% True Shooting.
Duke's Kon Knueppel in 2025, who scored 14.4 PPG on 64.2% True Shooting.
Rutgers' Ace Bailey in 2025, who scored 17.6 PPG on 53.6% True Shooting.
Kentucky's Reed Sheppard in 2024, who scored 12.5 PPG on 69.9% True Shooting.
Connecticut's Stephon Castle in 2024, who scored 11.1 PPG on 55.1% True Shooting.
Alabama's Brandon Miller in 2023, who scored 18.8 PPG on 58.3% True Shooting.
Duke's Paolo Banchero in 2022, who scored 17.2 PPG on 55.7% True Shooting.
Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren in 2022, who scored 14.1 PPG on 68.1% True Shooting.
Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr. in 2022, who scored 16.9 PPG on 57.0% True Shooting.

[Caneman786]

Here's some ranks to watch for Caleb Wilson.

Scoring, Points per game:

In NCAA D1, he is ranked #41 for scoring in points per game with 19.9 PPG.
In NCAA D1 among freshmen, he is ranked #4 for scoring after:

Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie who has 23.0, Duke forward Cameron Boozer who has 22.9, NC A&T's Lewis Walker who has 20.6.

In the ACC, he is ranked #7 for scoring.
In the ACC among freshmen, he is ranked #3 for scoring after Cameron Boozer and Lewis Walker.

Rebounding:

In NCAA D1, he is ranked #22 for rebounding in rebounds per game with 9.9 RPG.
In NCAA D1 among freshmen, he is ranked #4 among freshmen for rebounding after:

New Mexico's Tomislav Buljan with 11.1, Illinois's David Mirkovic with 10.0

In the ACC, he is ranked #3 for rebounding.
In the ACC among freshmen, he is ranked #1 for rebounding.

[babyjax13]

I ... really want to have Wilson at the top of my board. Not sure I am brave enough to do it yet, need to watch more of the other top guys, but damn ...

[Chi town]

I ... really want to have Wilson at the top of my board. Not sure I am brave enough to do it yet, need to watch more of the other top guys, but damn ...

I think he’s going to be superstar. Kid has IT. Elite competitor and motor. No fear. High IQ. Great passer. His athleticism is elite. Once he adds muscle I see a strong Giannis comp.

[peZt]

Over on Reddit there is a post with many upvotes and people in the comments agreeing that say that they are low on Caleb Wilson because he doesnt have a game outside of power dunks, doesn't have a jumper "at all" and is basically just a raw power dunker. And then you have guys in the comments agreeing and saying they have to see more ball skills to put them top 3. I swear I dont know what people are watching when they write up such things lol

Just rewatched the tape against Michigan State: 1st move a mid post to face up to spin move to dunk. 2nd move a blow by from the 3 point line with his left hand and dunk. 3rd move coast to coast to eurostep to poster dunk. Then 3 different instances where he handles the ball nicely, drives to the basket while handling the ball and gets fouled to the FT line.

Tape against Kansas: Almost exclusive mid range jumpers.

Tape against Navy: Multiple instances where he wieves through traffic with his handles, makes a coupe really nice and tough eurosteps to get to the basket, where most bigs would lose the ball.

Tape against NCC: 1st move eurostep from 3 point line to dunk. 3rd move coast to coast with the ball, gets fouled on the shot attempt. 5th move fade away from the free throw line with beauiful form. 7th move again beautiful form on the mid range jumper. 10th move a made 3.

Almost 3 assists per game as well.

If there is one guy that showcased ball skills that promise to translate to the NBA level its him lol.

[tontoz]

Over on Reddit there is a post with many upvotes and people in the comments agreeing that say that they are low on Caleb Wilson because he doesnt have a game outside of power dunks, doesn't have a jumper "at all" and is basically just a raw power dunker. And then you have guys in the comments agreeing and saying they have to see more ball skills to put them top 3. I swear I dont know what people are watching when they write up such things lol

Just rewatched the tape against Michigan State: 1st move a mid post to face up to spin move to dunk. 2nd move a blow by from the 3 point line with his left hand and dunk. 3rd move coast to coast to eurostep to poster dunk. Then 3 different instances where he handles the ball nicely, drives to the basket while handling the ball and gets fouled to the FT line.

Tape against Kansas: Almost exclusive mid range jumpers.

Tape against Navy: Multiple instances where he wieves through traffic with his handles, makes a coupe really nice and tough eurosteps to get to the basket, where most bigs would lose the ball.

Tape against NCC: 1st move eurostep from 3 point line to dunk. 3rd move coast to coast with the ball, gets fouled on the shot attempt. 5th move fade away from the free throw line with beauiful form. 7th move again beautiful form on the mid range jumper. 10th move a made 3.

Almost 3 assists per game as well.

If there is one guy that showcased ball skills that promise to translate to the NBA level its him lol.

Not so sure about that. What i have seen is that he struggles to finish inside when he cant dunk. When he takes more than 3 dribbles i am not confident in him at all. I haven't watched the game from last night but 5-19 isn't a good look.

His jumper looks fine but it remains to be seen how often it goes in. I like him in the top 5 but i don't see him as a contender for the top pick.

[Chi town]

Kid will get a ton of FT’s and the space and pace of the NBA game with his motor will benefit him greatly.

His hands are huge and he can palm it with both hands easily. Great passer.

Most importantly is the mental aspect. He’s an elite competitor with high IQ.

[RipCity71252]

Over on Reddit there is a post with many upvotes and people in the comments agreeing that say that they are low on Caleb Wilson because he doesnt have a game outside of power dunks, doesn't have a jumper "at all" and is basically just a raw power dunker. And then you have guys in the comments agreeing and saying they have to see more ball skills to put them top 3. I swear I dont know what people are watching when they write up such things lol

Just rewatched the tape against Michigan State: 1st move a mid post to face up to spin move to dunk. 2nd move a blow by from the 3 point line with his left hand and dunk. 3rd move coast to coast to eurostep to poster dunk. Then 3 different instances where he handles the ball nicely, drives to the basket while handling the ball and gets fouled to the FT line.

Tape against Kansas: Almost exclusive mid range jumpers.

Tape against Navy: Multiple instances where he wieves through traffic with his handles, makes a coupe really nice and tough eurosteps to get to the basket, where most bigs would lose the ball.

Tape against NCC: 1st move eurostep from 3 point line to dunk. 3rd move coast to coast with the ball, gets fouled on the shot attempt. 5th move fade away from the free throw line with beauiful form. 7th move again beautiful form on the mid range jumper. 10th move a made 3.

Almost 3 assists per game as well.

If there is one guy that showcased ball skills that promise to translate to the NBA level its him lol.

First move was not a spin...it was an eye fake straight left hand drive against their center...

I think Caleb is a good prospect though. He's like a weird mix of Tari Eason and Jalen Johnson.

He's more explosive than both of those guys though. Hasn't show the ball skills Jalen has and he's much more dynamic and explosive as a driver than Tari.

I'm still in wait and see mode on him as far as how high I'll have him. Think he has played to his strengths and the Carolina system has had him well positioned to highlight those strengths.

Main thing I'd like to see him is improve his competitive stamina defensively. His length, explosiveness, and ability to close space is impressive but there's also a lot of standing straight up with his arms at his side watching his matchup move freely and he's been beat in transition a lot...may just not be in the best cardiovascular shape to start the year....hard to say.

[tontoz]

Some nice midrange shots last game.

Watch on YouTube

[ezhkw8u69e]

He reminds me of a smaller Jermaine O'Neal tbh.

[ezhkw8u69e]

I think he basically needs to be Horford early in his career and learn to shoot at some point to get full value.

[EmpireFalls]

22-12-6 in his ACC debut. The passing was immaculate. Special prospect… this is a #1 overall pick in a lot of drafts and he’ll be #4.

[tontoz]

22-12-6 in his ACC debut. The passing was immaculate. Special prospect… this is a #1 overall pick in a lot of drafts and he’ll be #4.

I am seeing 16 rebounds lol. I have him at 3 now.

[Duke4life831]

I have him #2 right now. I think he has an extremely high floor. AJ and Peterson both have the higher ceiling because of their on ball ceiling being much higher.

But I just love his defensive versatility, his ability to crash the boards and is a willing passer. I’d be willing to take the gamble of taking him at 2 with the hope that jumper comes around.

[BigGargamel]

I still have the big three as my top three, but I wouldn't be mad if a team like Charlotte or Indiana took Wilson over Peterson.

This is looking like a year where a bad team just hopes to land in the top five. Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer, Wilson and Flemings all look like potential "best players on a bad team" to build around. As long as the Thunder don't get any of those 5 I'm good.

Interested to see who else emerges during conference play. Haven't given up on Mikel Brown Jr. or Nate Ament yet. Maybe Yessoufou once Baylor actually plays someone. Maybe Mullins once he gets more minutes. Wish Koa Peat could shoot.

[Catchall]

This guy has physical tools like Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Kemp.

Watch on YouTube

;t=77s

[The-Power]

22-12-6 in his ACC debut. The passing was immaculate. Special prospect… this is a #1 overall pick in a lot of drafts and he’ll be #4.

Maybe he'll be #4 but I don't think that's guaranteed. Personally, I currently have him at #2 behind Dybantsa and ahead of Peterson, though the latter can certainly make a strong case to move up if he shows out in conference play. Then there's Boozer a bit behind those three and a bit of a gap after him. Still early impressions, of course.