The gem of the upcoming NBA Draft 2026 who has been injured until the end of the season

North Carolina's promising player, Caleb Wilson, will not return to play this season after suffering a fracture in his right thumb during a practice session on Thursday. The university confirmed the news on Friday, and according to sources cited by ESPN, the player has already undergone surgery.

The injury occurred while Wilson was attempting a dunk in practice, leading to the fracture that required subsequent surgical intervention.

Despite the setback, Wilson is expected to be cleared medically in time to participate in the lead-up to the 2026 NBA Draft scheduled for June.

The 6'10" forward is considered one of the top talents in his class and is currently projected as a potential Top-5 selection. In most draft forecasts, he is placed just behind three standout names: Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer.

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A Season Marked by Injuries

The injury is another blow for Wilson, who had recently been sidelined. He missed the previous six games due to a fracture in his left hand suffered on February 10 in a game against the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball.

The team was actually anticipating his return in the coming days before this new setback in training.

Limited Impact on Team Performance

Prior to his injury, Wilson was having an outstanding season with 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Nevertheless, North Carolina has responded well in his absence, with a record of 5-1 in the recent games.

The Tar Heels head into the end of the regular season with a record of 24-6 (12-5 in the ACC), securing the fourth spot for the conference tournament. Their final game before the tournament will be a classic matchup against the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball at the Cameron Indoor Stadium.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La joya del próximo NBA Draft 2026 que se ha lesionado hasta final de temporada