Henri Veesaar's NIL Payday Is Gone: Why His Round 1 Slide Stings So Hard

Holy smokes, did you guys see Day 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft? We all tuned in expecting chalk for the top picks, and sure enough, AJ Dybantsa went to the Wizards at No. 1 and Koa Peat landed with the Suns at No. 30. But then, the real drama hit! Some high-profile college stars, players we had pegged as sure-fire first-rounders, got left completely in the dust. I'm talking about North Carolina's Henri Veesaar, Duke's Isaiah Evans, and Arkansas' Meelek Thomas. These guys were all ranked in the CBS Sports top 30, and somehow, they’re still waiting. What a wild night!

The Michael Malone Snub and a Vanishing Paycheck

Let's talk about Henri Veesaar first, because his situation is just brutal. This dude, a center out of UNC, was ranked No. 23 on the CBS Sports big board. He's a stretch big man who had a massive breakout season for the Tar Heels. Everyone had him going somewhere in the 20s. But here’s the kicker: Veesaar actually bypassed a return to North Carolina, where he would have played for first-year coach Michael Malone. He gave up what would’ve been one of the biggest NIL paydays in college basketball just to enter this draft! Now, instead of being a first-round lock and swimming in cash, he’s gotta sweat it out for Day 2. You gotta wonder what’s going through his head right now. That decision is looking tough to stomach.

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

Duke's Sniper and Arkansas's Scorer Left Hanging

Then there's Isaiah Evans, the forward from Duke. This one is genuinely surprising. He was ranked No. 26 by CBS Sports and also projected to land in the 20s. During his freshman year at Duke, he was pretty much a catch-and-shoot three-point specialist, but he blossomed into a legitimate No. 2 scoring option for the No. 1 overall seed in college hoops! He practically doubled his three-point attempts from last year to this year and still drained them at a solid 36.1% clip. He’s going to be a great addition for someone in the early-to-mid 30s. And let’s not forget Meelek Thomas, the guard from Arkansas, who checked in at No. 32 on the CBS Sports board. Thomas waited until the absolute last day of the stay-or-go deadline to commit to the draft. He was a solid second option next to Darius Acuff Jr. for Arkansas this past season, bringing valuable scoring to a young squad. It truly made logical sense for him to return to school to be Arkansas's potential top scoring option, but he decided to take the leap. Now all three are in the same boat, waiting on tenterhooks.

Day 2: What's Next For These Fallen Stars?

So what's the deal for these guys on Day 2? The spotlight is going to be on them immediately. Veesaar, Evans, and Thomas, all of whom could have pulled in huge NIL money by staying in school, now have to prove their worth in the second round. They were all ranked within the top 30 of various draft boards, so you know they've got the talent. It's not about if they get drafted anymore, but when, and what kind of opportunity they'll get. Day 2 is going to be electric, watching to see which teams snap up these unexpected steals. I'll be glued to every pick, ready to see where these guys land and if they can make some noise in the league.

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