Caleb Wilson ties UNC freshman record during Saturday upset of UVA

Story by

Aidan Jensen, Tar Heels Wire

Sun, Jan 25, 2026 ·

2 min read

Think of the endless great basketball players to come through Chapel Hill: Michael Jordan, Tyler Hansbrough , Marcus Paige, Joel Berry, Phil Ford, Lennie Rosenbluth.

There's another all-time great emerging at UNC this season: Caleb Wilson . A freshman power forward from Atlanta, Wilson is a do-it-all superstar who can take over for the Tar Heels in clutch moments.

During North Carolina's 85-80 road upset at Virginia on Saturday, Wilson added a significant milestone to his young collegiate career.

By scoring 20 points, including UNC's final field goal with 31 seconds left, Wilson tied Hansbrough for the most 20-point games – by a freshman – in program history.

After the game, Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talked about getting Wilson the ball in that crucial moment – and his ability to nail the tough, step back jumper.

“I mean, just wanted to give him the ball in space," Davis said via InsideCarolina's Cade Shoemaker . "Wanted to give him an opportunity to be able to make a play. I mean, he’s one of those guys that, if you give him space, he can make and create a shot anytime he wants to against anyone. And Caleb’s not scared of the moment. It’s the exact opposite. He runs towards it, and I knew he wanted a ball in his hands, and he came up big.”

Hansbrough, like Wilson , made an immediate impact in his freshman season at North Carolina. Starting by winning ACC Rookie of the Year and earning his first of four First Team All-ACC honors, Hansbrough left a National Champion.

Next weekend, Wilson will have a golden opportunity to break UNC's record for most 20-point games by a freshman. The Tar Heels will travel to Georgia Tech, situated in Wilson's hometown of Atlanta, for a 2 p.m. tip.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Caleb Wilson ties Tyler Hansbrough's record