7-Footer Henri Veesaar Is Leaving North Carolina Early and the NBA Draft Class Just Got Deeper

North Carolina center Henri Veesaar is heading to the NBA Draft instead of coming back for his senior season. CBS Sports reported the news on Friday, with the Raleigh News & Observer confirming that Veesaar told new head coach Michael Malone and his staff Thursday night he was done with college ball.

A Stretch Big Who Can Actually Shoot

The 7-footer from Estonia put up numbers last season that had NBA scouts circling. In 31 games, all starts, Veesaar averaged 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds while also chipping in 2.1 assists. But here's the thing that makes him different: he was knocking down 3-pointers at a 42.6% clip. That is not a typo. A seven-footer who shoots north of 42% from deep is exactly the kind of modern big man NBA teams are hunting for right now.

From Arizona Transfer to First-Round Prospect

Veesaar's journey to this point is worth noting. He spent two seasons at Arizona before transferring to North Carolina, averaging just 6.3 points in 66 games with only five starts out in Tucson. The move to Chapel Hill completely transformed his game. Last season he earned Second Team All-ACC honors, a massive jump from his Arizona days.

He's projected as a late first-round pick, meaning he'll likely hear his name called in the back half of round one. That kind of draft capital is hard to pass up, especially when you've got the game to back it up.

The NBA Draft class just got another legitimate big man to watch.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.