​Have a day, Caleb Wilson. The former UNC basketball star, whom the Chicago Bulls selected fourth overall in June’s NBA Draft, delivered a record-setting performance in his NBA Summer League debut on Friday night with 35 points. Wilson shot an impressive 12-of-21 from the floor, including a blistering 7-of-11 showing from three-point range, a mark he didn’t often reach during his time at North Carolina.
That seven-made triples on Friday matched his total number of made threes over his 24 games as a Tar Heel, a testament to how electrifying his shooting was in that game. If Wilson can maintain this level of perimeter accuracy and continue to play with the ease he displayed Friday, he could become an All-Star caliber player and a serious Rookie of the Year contender. In today’s NBA, where the three-point shot is king, Wilson’s performance offers a particularly encouraging sign for a guard who spent much of his college career operating closer to the basket.
As a team, Chicago struggled from deep last season, shooting 35.6 percent from three-point range, tied for 14th in the league. In contrast, Wilson connected on 63.7 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc on Friday night, a number that could substantially aid the Bulls’ push back toward the playoffs. By comparison, North Carolina finished the 2025-26 season shooting 34.2 percent from three as a team, ranking 169th out of 365 Division I programs. This past season’s Tar Heel roster featured five top perimeter shooters—Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon, Henri Veesaar, Jonathan Powell, and Kyan Evans—but all are set to see new paths this coming season, as they move to other teams or new roles.
Imagine if Wilson can carry Friday’s deep-ball success into a full season at UNC—or, more accurately, into his ongoing NBA career. In college, Wilson was known for thriving around the basket, relying on physicality to overpower opponents rather than launching a high volume of threes; he attempted only 27 attempts from beyond the arc during his UNC tenure. Friday’s display suggests that his shooting range might expand with pro development, a development that could transform him into a dynamic two-way threat for Chicago.
Follow Tar Heels Wire for ongoing coverage of North Carolina Basketball—Caleb Wilson’s impact, shooting progress, and the team’s latest news, notes, and opinions. This piece first appeared on Tar Heels Wire under the headline Caleb Wilson Equaled a Three-Pointer Record on Friday Night, highlighting his breakout Summer League showcase.