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What Caleb Wilson said after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 23, in Brooklyn.

The former UNC basketball star spoke with Lisa Salters following being selected, surrounded by his parents Jerry and Sabrina Wilson at Barclays Center.

The Atlanta native set UNC freshman records for the highest scoring average (19.8 ppg), 20-point games (17) and reached double figures in each of his 24 games as a Tar Heel. He became the first UNC player to score 20 or more points in six straight games and earned All-American honors.

His 9.4 rebounding average and 11 double-doubles are second-most for a Tar Heel freshman behind Antawn Jamison.

"That kid got here by hard work, believing in himself and having a great support system," Wilson said. "I kept tunnel vision, kept working, now I'm starting to see red."

UNC's first top-five selection since 2005, Wilson was a one-and-done star in Chapel Hill and was the first UNC player to lead a team in points (19.8), rebounds (9.4) and assists (2.7) per game. He started 24 games for the Tar Heels before a pair of hand injuries ended his season, missing the final nine games of the year with a broken bone in his left hand and a broken thumb in his right hand.

"I feel great," Wilson said. "I feel like that happened for a reason. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play in the NBA. I feel like if that would've never happened, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now."

Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball's Caleb Wilson on being drafted by Chicago Bulls

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