As NCAA conference play is set to begin, questions surrounding the 2026 NBA Draft are beginning to pick up steam. Justin Jackson didn't hedge his answer. Asked on The Field of 68 podcast which elite freshman he would rather draft based on NBA translation, the former North Carolina guard leaned toward upside over college dominance and gave the nod to Tar Heels freshman forward Caleb Wilson over Duke Blue Devils center Cameron Boozer.
"Probably lean more towards Caleb Wilson, especially with the way that the league is now as far as position-less," Jackson said.
"Cause Caleb Wilson at the end of the day, you could drop him down if you wanted to a three. I think Cam Boozer is still more in that four or five range. I think once you move him to the wing and having to defend, I think things change up a little bit. So, I’d probably have to say Caleb Wilson and give him the nod. But heck, Cam Boozer is right behind him and brings a lot to the table as well. So, I I’ll give Caleb Wilson just because of the ceiling that he could have."
Boozer's college dominance vs. Wilson's NBA fit
Jackson's take comes as ESPN's latest Top 100 Big Board has Boozer ranked No. 3, narrowly ahead of Wilson at No. 4. Boozer's case is built on production and winning. Through 10 games of the 2025-26 season, the Duke freshman is averaging 23.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, pairing that volume with an elite 65.3% true shooting rate. Duke's undefeated start against a demanding schedule has only strengthened the argument that Boozer is one of the most dominant 18-year-olds in the sport. In many draft cycles, that résumé screams No. 1 pick.
Yet, the NBA draft is rarely decided by who looks best in November.
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Why scouts keep circling Wilson
Wilson's appeal lives in versatility. He's averaging 19.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while serving as North Carolina's offensive engine, playing with a motor and physical edge that surprised scouts who questioned that aspect of his game coming out of high school. He attacks the rim relentlessly, shows real passing feel, and has the size and lateral quickness to defend multiple positions.
ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo in a sense echoed the sentiments of Jackson, believing that Wilson’s game has NBA portability.
"While there’s still a degree of rawness to Wilson’s game, his productivity and upside has made him arguably the most popular name in this next tier of prospects among scouts. It’s easy to envision him becoming a high-impact all-around player at the next level."
It's easy to chalk Jackson's opinion up to Tar Heel bias. But his logic tracks with modern draft thinking. Boozer may be the safer bet to dominate college basketball. Wilson, however, checks more of the boxes NBA teams prioritize when projecting who scales best once the game speeds up, the floor spreads, and positions blur.
Only time will tell but with ACC conference play right around the corner, these two are set to square off at least twice this season in one of the biggest rivalries in college sports. The Tar Heels are set to host the Blue Devils for the first matchup on February 7th.
Newsweek