Jay Williams Says Top NBA Prospect Has Giannis Antetokounmpo Potential
The Washington Wizards landed the No. 1 pick in Sunday's NBA Draft Lottery, with the Utah Jazz at No. 2, the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3, and the Chicago Bulls jumping to No. 4.
Further down the board, several playoff teams also secured valuable lottery positioning.
The Los Angeles Clippers landed the No. 5 pick, while the Atlanta Hawks drew No. 8. The Golden State Warriors currently hold the No. 11 selection, with a chance to move up, while the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder secured the No. 12 pick.
Most mock drafts still project AJ Dybantsa as the likely No. 1 overall selection, followed closely by Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.
However, Jay Williams believes another prospect may have the highest ceiling of them all.
The former Duke star and current ESPN analyst called Caleb Wilson unarguably the best player in the draft, before going even further by suggesting Wilson could eventually develop into the NBA's next Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 10-time All-Star, two-time MVP, and future Hall of Famer widely viewed as one of the greatest players of his generation.
“When I first saw him this year, I was like, ‘Oh, the bar is Jermaine O’Neal. The ceiling, Kevin Garnett.’ Now, when I watch him play, I’m like, ‘Ah, the bar seems like Kevin Garnett. The ceiling seems more like Giannis,” Williams said.
More news: Rockets Could Make Blockbuster Push For Donovan Mitchell Amid Cavaliers Turmoil
Wilson entered college basketball as one of the highest-rated recruits in the 2025 class, but his lone season at North Carolina quickly transformed him from elite prospect into legitimate franchise-changing NBA talent.
The 6-foot-10 freshman averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 57.8% from the field across 24 games before a fractured left hand cut his season short.
He earned First Team All-ACC honors and AP Second Team All-America recognition after becoming UNC's most impactful player on both ends of the floor.
What separates Wilson from many top prospects is the sheer breadth of his upside. Scouts view him as a rare modern forward with elite defensive versatility, transition explosiveness, advanced passing instincts, and the physical tools to eventually guard all five positions.
His offensive game is still developing, especially as a perimeter shooter (25.9% from deep in 2025-26), but evaluators increasingly believe his ceiling may be the highest in the class because of how fluidly he moves at his size.
More news: Donovan Mitchell Makes Feelings Clear on James Harden After Cavaliers Loss
More news: Fans Threaten NBA Boycott After Shocking New Mock Draft
For most of the past year, the 2026 draft has been framed as Dybantsa versus Peterson, with Boozer often hovering nearby because of his polished offensive game and NBA bloodlines.
Wilson was usually discussed as the elite upside swing, not the probable top pick.
Williams just challenged that head-on.
Dybantsa may still be the most explosive talent. Peterson might be the most naturally gifted perimeter scorer. Boozer could be the most NBA-ready star. But Wilson suddenly feels like the player executives will convince themselves they simply cannot afford to pass on.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 8:47 AM.