CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Star freshman Kaleb Wilson is increasing practice for No. 17 North Carolina ahead of its game against No. 1 Duke but has not yet been cleared to participate in 5-on-5 due to a broken hand, coach Hubert Davis said Thursday.
The 6-foot-10 high-end NBA prospect has missed six games since injuring his left hand in a Feb. 10 loss to Miami. The injury was to Wilson’s deputy, although Davis said earlier this week that he has had his cast removed and has been working on non-contact tasks such as dribbling and shooting.
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“He’s improving,” Davis said Thursday. “He has been doing individual training. We didn’t train yesterday since we played on Tuesday and we will train today. He will do more today. But other than that I don’t have any other information.”
North Carolina is 5-1 without Wilson, who is averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds. Miami’s loss came just days after he scored 23 points on Seth Trimble’s last-second 3-pointer to help lead a thrilling win over the Blue Devils.
The competitive rookie said in a social media post that he intends to return this season.
“Caleb really wants to play and he wants to come back as soon as possible,” Trimble said Thursday. “So nothing surprises me anymore.”
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The Tar Heels (24-6, 12-5) have clinched the No. 4 seed in next week’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. If Wilson misses Saturday’s trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium, UNC’s quarterfinal opener in Charlotte would be 30 days after the injury.
Since losing to North Carolina on Feb. 7, Duke (28-2, 16-1) has won seven straight, including a neutral-site victory over then-No. Michigan, ranked No. 1, defeated now-No. 1 Michigan by 26 points last weekend. 13 Virginia.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for our defense no matter what,” Duke coach Jon Schell said Thursday of Wilson’s status. “I really hope we can play to our standards in terms of who we are and what we do, whether he plays or not.”
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