North Carolina basketball has benefited this season from multiple players, and much of that success should be given to Henri Veesaar and what he’s been able to do on both sides of the ball.
Veesaar, who developed his game in Europe before making the jump to college basketball in the United States, credits Europe for allowing him to impact the game in ways that aren’t for a big man who says, plays basketball in the AAU circuit in America.
His comfort handling the ball, spacing the floor, and playing through contact was something he was taught in Europe, and they were skills he developed the right way.
“That comes from both my upbringing and a lot of hard work,” Veesaar said, per Chapel Boro’s David Glenn. “In Europe, even if you’re the tallest player, you work on all aspects of your game, not just blocking shots and rebounding and staying close to the basket. You work on dribbling, passing, 3-point shooting. So I have been practicing those skills for many years now, and I have confidence in them.”
Those skills have shown up for North Carolina, especially in games where Veesaar needs to be one of the best players on the court. t.
The transition from European basketball to the college game, however, wasn’t just about skill. There are mental and physical things that most wouldn’t understand unless they have done it themselves in the past
“In Europe, if they literally touch your hand or wrist, they’re going to call it a foul automatically, especially if you’re shooting the ball,” Veesaar said. “Here, there is much, much more physical contact that is not considered a foul, even when you’re shooting the ball.
“So the biggest thing is being strong with the ball and being ready to play through contact. I’ve had many years now to make that adjustment, so it’s not a problem. It’s just different.”
As the season progresses, we’ll see how these skills look when it matters most. The junior is averaging an impressive 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and those numbers will need to stay the same or be even better in ACC play.