Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor is joined by Rashad Phillips to discuss why the North Carolina forward – despite missing the upcoming NCAA tournament with a broken hand – could be an ideal early pick at the next level. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
I wanna pivot here- Yes to another lottery prospect in Caleb Wilson, from North Carolina, ’cause his season is over.
he fractured his right thumb while ramping up, while recovering from a fractured left hand, that he suffered in early February.
But he’s undergoing surgery, his season is over for North Carolina.
He unfortunately missed the big North Carolina-Duke showdown.
He’s gonna miss March Madness.
We’re not gonna get to see that from him, but he did have a really good season for Carolina.
W- what’s your evaluation of Caleb Wilson, and do you think he belongs kind of in that same clump of those top prospects vying for the number one pick, or is he a, a group below them?
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No, I think he belongs with, with, with the AJ’s and Peterson and Acuff.
I think he’s right there.
He’s done enough, this season to show the world how special he is.
I mean, when you, when you talk about he reminds me of a young And I’m, I’m old, so I always, my comps always go to the old school.
I know this new generation hate my comps ’cause I always go old school- but I try to keep the old school guys alive.
He reminds me of a young Robert Horry.
So if I go back and look at- That’s, that’s an interesting comp.
Horry.
Yeah, see- Wow z- yeah.
So if you go back and look- Yeah at the young Robert Horry when he was at Alabama, he was so athletic, can shoot the ball, 6’10”, 6’11”.
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And this kid is, is fantastic.
When you look at how the NBA is played today, and what attracts, what, what attracts, he has all the tools.
his motor’s fantastic.
His finishing above the rim, I believe he was leading in the, leading the nation in dunks before he got injured.
His finishing ability- He was.
That’s true yeah, so his finishing a- finishing ability is fantastic.
He had excellent size.
He can defend multiple positions.
So when you look at the prototypical player and who you wanna draft, this is what they look like.
They look like Caleb Wilson