UNC Lands Key Frontcourt Piece as Arizona Transfer Henri Veesaar Commits to Tar Heels

After a fast and focused recruiting effort, North Carolina has landed its guy.

On Friday afternoon, 7-foot Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar announced his commitment to UNC, giving the Tar Heels a crucial interior presence they’ve been hunting all offseason. The Estonian big man, who brings two years of eligibility, becomes a cornerstone addition to Hubert Davis’s 2025–26 roster.

Veesaar hit the portal on March 31, and it didn’t take long for UNC to make its intentions known. The coaching staff zeroed in quickly, getting him on campus before the NCAA’s recruiting dead period — a clear sign they weren’t just interested, they were all-in. That commitment paid off.

While Veesaar wasn’t a full-time starter at Arizona, his sophomore season showed major growth. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game — but his versatility stands out. A true modern big, he connected on 32.7% of his threes and flourished as a pick-and-roll weapon, giving Carolina a rare stretch-five option it hasn’t consistently had in years.

The Tar Heels entered the offseason thin up front and in need of size, skill, and mobility. Veesaar checks all three boxes — and then some. Among several quality big men available in the portal, he always felt like UNC’s top priority. Now, he’s Chapel Hill-bound.

This commitment is a major win for Davis and his staff, plugging a gaping hole in the frontcourt and providing the type of two-way upside that can swing games. There’s still work to do — particularly at point guard — but this is the kind of move that sets the tone for the rest of the summer.

With Veesaar in the fold, Carolina’s offseason is off to a strong and promising start.

A former basketball target for UNC decommits after being selected unexpectedly.

Back in the fall, UNC basketball was in the mix for longtime Tar Heel fan Niko Bundalo

The 6-foot-10 senior forward from Prolific Prep (Calif.) had listed UNC among his top nine schools and later included them in his final four, alongside UConn, Michigan State, and Ohio State. However, in a surprising move last November, Bundalo committed to Washington — a program that hadn’t made his previous shortlist.

Now, the recruitment race is back on. Multiple reports on Tuesday confirmed that Bundalo has been released from his signed commitment to Washington and is once again available.

Ranked No. 31 nationally in the 2025 class by the 247Sports Composite, Bundalo is now the second-highest ranked uncommitted prospect in the cycle.

It remains uncertain whether UNC head coach Hubert Davis will pursue him again, though Bundalo’s deep-rooted connection to the Tar Heels — inspired by his mother’s admiration for Michael Jordan — could make Chapel Hill a natural fit. The Tar Heels still have roster spots open for next season.

UNC Basketball Makes the Cut for the Elite Forward List

The UNC basketball program remains in the hunt for five-star recruit Anthony Thompson, who announced his top 15 schools over the weekend.

In early January, Western Reserve Academy (Ohio) standout small forward Anthony Thompson received an offer from Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis. Nearly four months later, UNC has secured a spot on his shortlist.

On Friday, Thompson revealed his top choices on social media, naming UNC along with BYU, Texas, Xavier, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, Indiana, Auburn, Notre Dame, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan.

The 6-foot-8, 185-pound left-hander narrowed his options after drawing over 30 scholarship offers early in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

According to the 247Sports 2026 Composite rankings, Thompson currently sits at No. 11 overall, No. 3 among small forwards, and is the No. 1 prospect in Ohio.

“Whenever Anthony Thompson is in the gym, it’s tough to find a jump shot that looks better,” 247Sports’ Eric Bossi recently observed, also noting Thompson’s impressive “nearly 7-foot-3 wingspan.”

The Tar Heels have issued numerous offers to 2026 prospects and remain firmly in the mix for many of their top recruiting targets.

The UNC basketball team wins an in-conference transfer.

UNC Basketball Adds Experienced Guard from Virginia Tech

The UNC basketball staff has secured a commitment from a guard who made a notable leap in his sophomore season at Virginia Tech.

As of Friday, Jaydon Young is officially a Tar Heel. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Goldsboro, N.C., native brings valuable ACC experience with him to Chapel Hill.

Coming out of Greensboro Day School in 2023 as a three-star recruit, Young saw limited action as a freshman, averaging just 1.8 points in 8.5 minutes over 26 games off the Hokies’ bench. However, he broke through during his second year, becoming a key contributor. Young played in all 32 games last season, earning 10 starts, and averaged 8.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game — although he struggled with efficiency, shooting 34.7 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range. Virginia Tech finished the season with a 13-19 record.

In the current transfer portal rankings from 247Sports, the 20-year-old Young sits at No. 354 overall and No. 84 among shooting guards.

With Young’s commitment, UNC’s transfer class for 2025 — now five players deep — is ranked No. 16 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC, trailing only Louisville’s group.

UNC basketball is included on the list of elite forwards.

UNC Basketball Named Among Finalists for Five-Star Recruit Anthony Thompson

UNC has advanced to the next stage in the recruitment of elite 2026 prospect Anthony Thompson, who announced his top 15 schools over the weekend—and the Tar Heels made the cut.

Thompson, a standout small forward from Western Reserve Academy in Ohio, picked up an offer from head coach Hubert Davis and his staff back in January. Now, nearly four months later, UNC remains in strong contention for the 6-foot-8, 185-pound junior.

On Friday, Thompson revealed his list on social media, naming UNC alongside BYU, Texas, Xavier, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, Indiana, Auburn, Notre Dame, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan.

Thompson, a smooth-shooting lefty with a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan, has drawn national attention throughout the 2026 cycle and narrowed his list after receiving more than 30 scholarship offers. He currently ranks No. 11 overall, No. 3 among small forwards, and No. 1 in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite for 2026.

“Whenever Anthony Thompson is in the gym, it’s almost impossible to find a player with a smoother jump shot,” noted 247Sports analyst Eric Bossi, praising the junior’s combination of size, skill, and versatility.

UNC, which has extended over 10 offers in the 2026 class so far, continues to pursue several top-tier prospects and remains a serious player on the national recruiting trail.