Henri Veesaar Declares for NBA Draft and North Carolina Just Fell Out of the Top 25

North Carolina basketball took a massive hit on Friday. Seven-foot center Henri Veesaar is entering the 2026 NBA Draft, and he's staying in it, meaning the Tar Heels just got yanked from the preseason rankings entirely.

Here's how fast things changed: In the previous version of the CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1, UNC ranked 14th with Veesaar on the roster. In the updated rankings released today, they're gone. Completely out. That's the kind of damage losing a player of his caliber does to a program's projection.

What Veesaar's Departure Actually Costs UNC

Last season, Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 31.5 minutes per game. He was the anchor for a Tar Heels team that ranked 11th in the AP Top 25 poll before injuries derailed the season in February. Losing that production, especially from a 7-footer who can protect the rim and score in the post, doesn't just hurt next year's roster. It tanks the entire projection.

The wild part? Most NBA evaluators view Veesaar as a borderline first-round pick at best. In the current portal era, there's actual logic to the argument that he had more financial value staying at UNC as a star college player than taking his chances in the NBA. New coach Michael Malone probably thought the same thing when Veesaar stayed out of the transfer portal when it closed. But declarations are declarations.

Malone Still Has Time to Rebuild

The good news for UNC: Malone and his staff can still add pieces to get back into future versions of these rankings. The portal is always open, recruiting never stops, and one quality addition or two could swing the needle back. As currently constructed though, North Carolina is out. That's the reality of losing a 17-point, 8-rebound anchor at the center position.

This is the kind of early-season roster shock that defines how the rest of the offseason plays out. Watch to see how fast Malone can reload.

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