With the 2025-26 college basketball season in the books, we continue our 2025-26 player reviews.
This time, we look back on center Henri Veesaar’s season. The 7-foot big man was one of the most high-profile additions for North Carolina, arriving as an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection at Arizona, where he served as its sixth man. With more production and responsibility, Veesaar lived up to the hype, and he and Caleb Wilson formed one of the most productive frontcourt duos in the country.
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Here is a breakdown of Veesaar’s season.
Season in review
Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) shoots in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Averaging 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds, he ranked eighth in scoring and fourth in rebounding in the ACC. He had 15 double-doubles, second most in the conference and 17th nationally.
He shot 60.8% from the field, second in the ACC and 21st nationally, and led the Tar Heels in 3-point percentage at 42.6%, the best mark on the team among players with at least 50 attempts.
His 66.7 effective field-goal percentage ranked 16th nationally, and his 66.4 true shooting percentage ranked 24th.
Veesaar’s inside game was elite. He ranked fifth in the ACC and 18th nationally with 58 dunks and shot 75.3% in the paint (fifth in the ACC, 31st among power-conference players). His mid-range game was nearly as strong, as he went 46-for-86 on mid-range attempts, the fifth-best mark in the ACC and 19th nationally among players with at least 50 attempts, according to Bart Torvik.
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However, Veesaar shot just 61.5% from the free-throw line, and that season-long issue surfaced at the worst possible time. He missed both attempts in the final seconds of North Carolina’s 82-78 loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when two makes would have tied the game and forced a second overtime. Had he converted those free throws, the Tar Heels would have had new life — and Hubert Davis would have likely still been the head coach of his alma mater.
What’s next
North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) dunks the ball Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the VCU Rams at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
As of now, Veesaar is projected to be a late first-round or early second-round selection in this year’s NBA Draft. He may declare for the draft to test the waters and see where he fits before he makes a final decision.
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There’s a 50-50 chance he remains in Chapel Hill next season but nothing is set in stone until he says otherwise.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Henri Veesaar’s 2025-26 season in review
