By ADAM ZAGORIA
North Carolina fans can probably forget about Henri Veesaar coming back for another season.
Veesaar, who measured 6’11 ¼” barefoot with a 7’2″ wingspan and 9’3″ standing reach at the NBA Combine, plans on staying in the NBA Draft.
“I’m all-in on staying the draft,” he said, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. “It’s 100% my decision to stay. I think it’s the right decision, basketball-wise.”
“I don’t think” there’s any chance of returning to school, he added.
Veesaar is potential late-first round pick, with Tankathon currently projecting him at No. 33 to the Brooklyn Nets and ESPN No. 25 to the Lakers.
North Carolina center Henri Veesaar is gaining buzz as a potential first-round lock in the 2026 NBA Draft.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 13, 2026
The 7-footer’s development as a three-pointer shooter, 42.6% this season, has many teams intrigued about his stretch-five upside. pic.twitter.com/eDZz7JCWci
Veessar averaged 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds last season while shooting 61% from the field.
Meantime, incoming North Carolina transfer guard Matthew Able said he’s “back-and-forth” on staying in the Draft or going to UNC after transferring from N.C. State.
Mike Malone’s team also landed a pledge Wednesday from four-star guard Kevin Thomas.
He joins a recruiting class that consists of five-star Sayon Keita, four-star Maximo Adams, combo guard Malloy Smith, Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman, Utah transfer Terrence Brown and Able.
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