UNC coach Hubert Davis updates Caleb Wilson’s hand injury status. The latest
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wilson removed hard cast; can do individual workouts and non-contact activity.
- No firm return date; Davis says Wilson is “moving in the right direction.”
- Wilson missed five games; UNC went 4-1 in that span.
It’s been over two weeks since North Carolina freshman forward Caleb Wilson injured his left hand in a loss to Miami. And, as much fun as the freshman forward appears to be having celebrating his teammates on the bench, there’s no doubt the Atlanta native is itching to get back on the court.
After Saturday’s 89-82 win over Virginia Tech, UNC coach Hubert Davis provided an update on Wilson’s recovery, sharing some positive news after the freshman had more imaging done this week on his left hand.
Wilson no longer has a hard cast on the hand and is able to participate in individual workouts. He can dribble, shoot and catch “like normal,” Davis said, and worked out before the game Saturday. He is also able to participate in any non-contact activity, meaning he can’t play five-on-five yet.
There remains no firm timeline for Wilson’s return, but Davis said the 6-foot-10 forward is “moving in the right direction.”
“He would play tonight if I would let him,” Davis said earlier this week on his radio show. “He just wants to be out on the court badly. He just really does. And he’s getting better every day.”
Wilson, who broke a bone in his left hand Feb. 10 at Miami, has missed five straight games. North Carolina is 4-1 in that stretch after playing its first 24 contests with him in the lineup.
In those 24 games, Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds while attempting nearly a third of the team’s free throws. Without him, five Tar Heels — Seth Trimble, Henri Veesaar, Luka Bogavac, Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High — have averaged double figures over the past four games, entering Saturday.
They’ve been cheered on from the sidelines by Wilson, who’s been the subject of a few fan-made highlight reels of his bench celebrations.
“I hope people have noticed and can see what he’s doing on the bench,” Davis said. “That’s not normal. So many times when things don’t go your way, you’re so wrapped up in yourself. He’s just jumping around. It speaks to who he is — the type of person and teammate he is.”
Wilson has himself circled the regular-season finale against Duke on March 7 as a possible return date, though no official timeline has been set.
This story was originally published March 1, 2026 at 12:04 AM.