Bulls select UNC’s Wilson with No. 4 overall pick, Swain at No. 15

Caleb Wilson wasted no time setting the bar high for himself after being chosen by the Bulls with the No. 4 overall pick in Tuesday's NBA Draft.

“I want to be the greatest player of all time,” Wilson said in a Zoom call with Chicago reporters. “And y'all got one of the goats in y'all's history right now. So it's time for another one. I'm hungry, man. I'm hungry to be the greatest. That's me.”

Wilson was obviously referencing Michael Jordan. Maybe they can have side-by-side statues someday.

But they are very different players. Wilson is an athletic power forward, who handles the ball well and needs work on his outside shot.

With the No. 15 pick of the first round, in a bit of a surprise, the Bulls chose 6-7 Texas forward Dailyn Swain.

Swain is billed as a strong defender, who also needs work on his outside shot. He spent two years at Xavier before transferring to Texas, where he averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He shot 34.4% from 3-point range.

Wilson was one of the least surprising picks in Bulls history, since there was a very clear top-four in this draft, and the Bulls were choosing fourth. Most every mock draft had Wilson headed for Chicago.

“I tried my best to stay out of the media, because I didn't want to get attached to the Bulls, and it didn't happen,” Wilson said. “I definitely knew it was a big possibility for me to come there, and I was excited if I had the opportunity to, and I'm grateful that I have the chance.

“Chicago's a great city. I heard it gets really cold, so I'll get me some puffer jackets and wear me some long johns or something like that to get ready for the weather. But honestly, I'm just excited for the opportunity.”

The top three went as expected. BYU forward A.J. Dybantsa went first to Washington, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson second to Utah and Duke forward Cameron Boozer third to Memphis.

Wilson said he asked fellow North Carolina product Coby White about Chicago and how he liked paying there. He talked about knowing Matas Buzelis and Rob Dillingham since high school, then meeting Patrick Williams and Leonard Williams at the draft combine.

Wilson gives the Bulls a nice boost of frontcourt athleticism. Wilson measured 6-9 ¼ at the draft combine, with a 39.5 inch max vertical, so he's athletic, long and handles the ball well. His outside shot needs work, but he was productive in college.

“My fit on the team, I'm just going to go hard, man,” Wilson said. “I'm going to make it happen. Whatever they need me to do, I'm going do it and more.”

During a single season in Chapel Hill, the Atlanta native averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks. He played his final college game on Feb. 10 due to a broken left hand. He was planning to return, but suffered another injury in practice and needed surgery to fix a broken right thumb.

“I feel great, better than ever,” Wilson said. “Been working on my hand strength, so I never have to go through something like that again. It's crazy times, but I feel great.”

With the No. 5 pick, Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler was chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers. The selection capped a remarkable rise for the Shawnee Mission, Kansas native, who was ranked the No. 179 best high school senior a year ago by On3 Sports. Wagler is the Illini's third first-round pick in the last two drafts.

Three more guards went next: Mikel Brown Jr. to Brooklyn, Darius Acuff Jr. to Sacramento and Kingston Flemings to Atlanta.

The first real surprise was south suburban native Morez Johnson Jr. going with the ninth pick to Dallas, where he'll play for former Michigan coach Dusty May. The two fellow Wolverines went shortly after — Yaxel Lendeborg to Golden State at No. 11 and Aday Mara to Oklahoma City at 12.

This story will be updated.