Henri Veesaar Brings New Life to North Carolina Basketball
The Arizona transfer is already making Chapel Hill feel a little taller, tougher, and more complete.
When North Carolina tipped off its exhibition slate against BYU, most Tar Heel fans were watching to see how Hubert Davis’ reshaped roster would mesh. What they didn’t expect was for Henri Veesaar a 7-foot forward from Tallinn, Estonia to look like he’d been wearing Carolina blue for years.
Even in a narrow loss to BYU, Veesaar’s impact was unmistakable. The Tar Heels may have fallen by two points, but they gained something much more important: a glimpse of how much better, longer, and more versatile they can be with Veesaar anchoring the paint.
A Transfer Who Feels Like a Missing Piece
From the moment he stepped on the floor, Veesaar’s presence changed the game. His movement, his size, his feel everything about the way he played suggested he was exactly what UNC needed.
In 33 minutes, he posted 14 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, while also showing flashes of defensive awareness that the Tar Heels have lacked in recent seasons. His ability to alter shots, box out, and run the floor gave North Carolina a sense of control it rarely had last year in the post.
It wasn’t just the numbers it was the presence. Every time BYU tried to attack the rim, there was Veesaar’s 7-foot frame waiting, forcing adjustments and rushed finishes. He rebounded with command, passed with patience, and made smart rotations.
That kind of two-way impact doesn’t always show up in the box score, but anyone watching could feel the difference.
A Modern Big Man in a Traditional Program
For a program that has long relied on dominant big men from Tyler Hansbrough and Kennedy Meeks to Armando Bacot Veesaar brings something a little different. He’s a modern 7-footer.
He can space the floor, move fluidly, and play the pick-and-roll like a guard. His ability to stretch defenses opens up driving lanes for North Carolina’s athletic guards, while his rim protection gives freedom to perimeter defenders to take more risks.
Paired with Caleb Wilson, UNC’s 6-foot-10 freshman phenom, the two looked in sync against BYU’s talented frontcourt, which included potential NBA prospect AJ Dybansta. The chemistry between them was a bright spot — two tall, skilled forwards who can pass, shoot, and protect the rim. It’s the kind of frontcourt versatility that can define an entire season.
The Defensive Anchor UNC Has Needed
Last year, the Tar Heels often struggled to control the paint defensively. That problem seems to be fading fast.
Veesaar’s instincts on defense make him a natural anchor. His timing on blocks, his verticality on drives, and his ability to communicate in the paint make him an ideal fit for what Hubert Davis wants — a defense built on length, rotation, and discipline.
And his presence alone changes the way teams will approach UNC. Guards who once attacked the basket fearlessly will now have to think twice. Rebounding, too, becomes a collective strength when one man controls space so well.
As Davis put it after the game, “We’ve needed someone who can make the game easier for everyone else defensively Henri does that.”
Questions of Depth Behind the Giant
Of course, one man can’t carry the frontcourt alone. Behind Veesaar, there’s a growing question: who steps up when he needs a rest?
Names like Jarin Stevenson, Zayden High, and James Brown will be key in spelling minutes, while Ivan Matlekovic, a transfer from High Point, could provide extra size and energy in short bursts. There’s also the intriguing possibility of Caleb Wilson sliding to the five in small-ball lineups something Davis has experimented with in practice.
But make no mistake: Veesaar will be the anchor. The Tar Heels will go as far as his presence allows them to, and his endurance, consistency, and ability to stay out of foul trouble will play a major role in how the season unfolds.
The Dawn of a New Frontcourt Era
When was the last time North Carolina had this much length and fluidity up front? You might have to go back to the 2020–21 season, when Roy Williams had Walker Kessler now with the Utah Jazz coming off the bench.
That’s the kind of upside Veesaar brings: NBA-ready potential with a college-level hunger. He gives North Carolina balance, both offensively and defensively, and a renewed sense of belief that this team can compete with anyone, anywhere.
As the Tar Heels prepare for their final preseason game against Winston-Salem State, there’s a quiet excitement building in Chapel Hill. Fans can feel it. Coaches can see it.
Henri Veesaar isn’t just another transfer he’s a difference-maker. And if his exhibition debut was any indication, the Tar Heels’ path back to national relevance may just run right through their new 7-foot cornerstone.
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