Charles Barkley drops shocking No. 1 pick claim on Caleb Wilson after UNC injury setback

Charles Barkley joined Dick Vitale in the booth for a play-in game between NC State and Texas. The duo debated a plethora of topics, including the impact of injuries on the game and the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

“I feel bad for UNC losing that great Caleb Wilson,” Vitale said.

“He’s such a super player.”

Charles Barkley chipped in with his trademark matter-of-fact analysis. He added a bold draft prediction on Wilson.

“Tell you what, I really hate that too, the Hall of Famer said.

“Because I’m not going to lie, if I had the No. 1 pick in the draft I might take him. I know everybody’s been talking about all these other guys. I might take Wilson if I had the No. 1 pick in the draft.”

Barkley expressed his admiration for Wilson and his suitability for the way the NBA is played today. Wilson led the Tar Heels in points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks per game before he was ruled out for March Madness.

While Barkley has Wilson at the top of his draft board, there are a couple of top-tier talents also in contention for the coveted No. 1 overall spot in this year’s draft.

Caleb Wilson, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer vying for No. 1 pick

Caleb Wilson is a consensus Top 5 pick in this year’s draft. However, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer might have something to say about the No. 1 pick.

Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated and USA Today have AJ Dybantsa as the first pick. Dybantsa leads the country in unassisted points scored, and he’s the youngest player in NCAA history with a 30-point triple-double. His versatility also makes him a can’t-miss prospect.

ESPN has Darryn Peterson as the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. The combo guard has earned comparisons to the late great Kobe Bryant, and he’s the primary scorer for the Kansas Jayhawks. However, his lengthy injury history might cause concern entering the draft process.

Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson are also high up the draft board in most respected mock drafts. Duke’s Boozer is the National Player of the Year favorite, while Wilson is a Swiss army knife for North Carolina. Both frontcourt stars could hear their name called first, depending on the team that gets the first overall pick.