North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson out for the season after thumb surgery

2026-03-07 - 14:25

North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right thumb Thursday in a non-contact practice drill in Chapel Hill, the school said Friday, ending his comeback from a separate left-hand injury just before the Duke rematch and ACC tournament. The immediate effect is severe for UNC. Wilson had missed the Tar Heels’ last six games after fracturing a bone in his left hand at Miami on Feb. 10, but he had been cleared for individual workouts and was moving toward a return. Instead, the school said he broke the thumb on his shooting hand while dunking and “will need surgery and is out for the rest of the season.” Wilson had been one of Carolina’s best players this season. He finishes the year averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds, with 17 games of 20 points or more. His absence leaves UNC without its leading scorer and top rebounder on the eve of Saturday’s game against No. 1 Duke and days before postseason play begins. The timing is especially harsh because the latest injury came during recovery from the first one, not in a game. Before Thursday’s practice, coach Hubert Davis had said Wilson was increasing his workload but had not yet returned to full five-on-five action. Wilson addressed fans Friday night in an Instagram post. “Can’t really put into words how special chapel hill has been to me man,” he wrote. “But truly this has been one of the best experiences of my life.” For UNC, the update is no longer about when Wilson might return this month. It is that he will not return at all this season.