Draymond Green was early on Caleb Wilson, and his November read looks stronger a week before the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Warriors forward did not treat Wilson like a throw-in name behind the bigger freshman stars.
He put him in the same conversation as the draft’s headline prospects.
Caleb Wilson’s dark horse call from Draymond Green aged well
Speaking on the Draymond Green Show in mid-November 2025, Green praised Darryn Peterson, but still made room for Wilson as the name to watch.
“Darryn Peterson is an incredible player. Is he the absolute best player in college basketball? His polish, his scoring ability, I think is great. Right now, currently, I would take AJ Dybantsa and the dark horse, Caleb Wilson.”
That was a bold stance at the time. ESPN’s November mock draft cycle had Wilson around the No. 5 range, just outside the first three names dominating early 2026 draft talk.
By June, the North Carolina forward had firmly established himself at No. 4 on ESPN’s final board, with enough support in the scouting world to make a top-three jump possible if a team values his athletic ceiling over safer creation.
Green has only grown louder since. He later called Wilson the sleeper of the draft, described him as the most special player in the class, and even suggested his floor could resemble Kevin Garnett if the work follows the tools.
Caleb Wilson’s profile points to a top-four NBA Draft projection
The appeal starts with the body and the production.
Wilson measured 6-foot-9.25 without shoes, 210.8 pounds, with a 7-foot-0.25 wingspan and 9-foot standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine. His vertical numbers also backed the eye test, with a 34.5-inch standing leap and 39.5-inch max vertical.
He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 24 games while shooting 57.8 percent from the field for the UNC Tar Heels last season.
The concern is shooting. Wilson hit only 25.9 percent from three, and his thumb injury ended the season before he could use March to answer more questions.
The landing-spot picture still starts near the top. Chicago at No. 4 has been a popular projection, while Washington, Utah, or Memphis would represent the higher-end swing if he climbs.
Green’s view is easy to understand. Wilson is not the cleanest prospect in the draft, but his combination of motor, length, and upside could look dangerous in three years.
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