North Carolina, on the heels of a win over rival Duke last weekend, lost at Miami on Tuesday, then found out on Thursday that it will be without the services of star freshman Caleb Wilson.
Wilson, a talented 6’10” freshman, injured his left hand in the 75-66 loss at Miami, but was able to finish the game, though he had a season-low 12 points in the L.
The injury was initially thought to be a sprain, but it was revealed on Thursday that it’s a fracture.
UNC Athletics said the evaluation process is ongoing to determine the timetable for Wilson’s return.
Wilson is averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels (19-5, 7-4 ACC, NET: 25), shooting 57.8 percent from the floor and 25.9 percent from three, and getting to the line a staggering 7.5 times per game.
I would expect UNC coach Hubert Davis to go more with former five-star recruit Jarin Stevenson (7.2 ppg, 3.9 rebounds/g, 45.5% FG, 27.9% 3FG), a 6’11” junior, alongside seven-foot redshirt junior Henri Veesaar (16.4 ppg, 9.0 rebounds/g, 61.5% FG, 44.8% 3FG) in the post in the starting lineup.
The question would be, who takes Stevenson’s minutes as the lead big off the bench.
Zayden High, a 6’10” sophomore, has played in 20 games, but is averaging just 5.3 minutes per game.
His only significant action in his first two seasons came back in November, in garbage time in a 97-53 win over North Carolina Central, in which High put up 11 points in 13 minutes of floor time.
The other option is even less-used 6’10” sophomore James Brown, who has played in nine games, and averages 5.6 minutes per when he gets in.
Davis may have to go with a four-guard lineup around Veesaar or Stevenson when he needs to sub for one or the other, or when one or the other gets into foul trouble.
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Chris Graham
