When North Carolina (6–1) steps into Rupp Arena on Tuesday night for the ACC/SEC Challenge, Kentucky (5–2) won’t just be preparing for a marquee matchup—they’ll be staring down a reminder of a massive recruiting battle that slipped through their fingers.
That reminder’s name? Caleb Wilson, the 6-foot-10 freshman forward who has quickly become one of the most electric first-year players in college basketball.
The One Who Got Away
A year ago, Mark Pope was pushing harder for Wilson than any other high school prospect. Kentucky held the momentum for months in his recruitment. Wilson visited Lexington in September 2024, took in a UK–Georgia football game, watched practice, stopped by Keeneland, and left with the Wildcats squarely in the lead.
For Pope, landing Wilson would have been the signature high school recruiting win of his early tenure.
Instead, in January, Wilson chose Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels. And now, he returns to Rupp Arena—not as a Wildcat, but as the biggest threat Kentucky will face on Tuesday night.
A Freshman Already Playing Like a Lottery Pick
Wilson has started all seven games for UNC and has quickly established himself as the team’s most productive player:
19.9 points per game
9.9 rebounds
1.7 steals
Four straight double-doubles
Elite efficiency inside the arc
He’s been at his best on the biggest stages. In North Carolina’s win over Kansas on Nov. 7, he erupted for:
24 points
7 rebounds
4 assists
4 steals
A blistering 9-for-11 from the field
Even in UNC’s lone loss—against Michigan State on Thanksgiving—Wilson still led the Tar Heels with 18 points and seven boards.
ESPN’s 2026 NBA mock draft already projects him as a top-five pick, reinforcing what scouts predicted from the start: Wilson is likely a one-and-done talent.
The only part of his game that remains a work in progress is perimeter shooting—just eight of his 80 field-goal attempts have been threes.
Kentucky’s Freshman Class Isn’t Lacking — Just Different
Kentucky didn’t walk away empty-handed in the 2025 class. Five-star center Malachi Moreno has already emerged as a reliable contributor, stacking multiple double-doubles and earning a starting job in the Wildcats’ last two blowout wins.
Fellow five-star Jasper Johnson and developmental forward Braydon Hawthorne round out the class. It’s a solid group — but none of them match the immediate star power Wilson is showing in Chapel Hill.
And that difference fuels an ongoing criticism of Pope:
Despite success in the transfer portal, he has yet to land a true, national one-and-done high school superstar or coach a first-round NBA Draft pick at the college level.
Quaintance should change the second part this summer, but the recruiting narrative still lingers.
Looking Ahead: Could 2026 Change the Story?
Kentucky didn’t secure any 2026 commitments during the early signing period, but they remain in excellent shape with two of the biggest names in the class:
Tyran Stokes — No. 1 overall
Christian Collins — Top 10
Either would instantly become the highest-ranked recruit Pope has ever landed.
Tuesday Night: A Prove-It Game
When Caleb Wilson steps onto the Rupp Arena floor, Kentucky fans will see the player they once led for — the same player they now have to stop.
UNC arrives with a rising superstar.
Kentucky arrives with something to prove.
And for Mark Pope, this matchup isn’t just another game.
It’s a reminder of the recruiting battles he must start winning if the Wildcats want to climb back to the top of college basketball.
