North Carolina Tar Heels star Henri Veesaar has been selected with the 52nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Atlanta Hawks have selected North Carolina Tar Heels star Henri Veesaar with the 52nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Veesaar was only with the Tar Heels for one season, having spent his first three years at Arizona. In his freshman campaign, Veesaar appeared in 29 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds, shooting 61.9 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three.
He had a larger role in his junior season at Arizona, averaging 9.4 points, five rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting 59.2 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from deep.
However, it was Veesaar's senior season at North Carolina when he had a breakout campaign, averaging 17 points per game along with 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks. He shot an efficient 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from behind the arc.
Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesVeesaar established himself as a first-round-caliber talent and was projected to be a late first-round pick, but fell down the board. Once he fell to the second round, Veesaar and his agent seemed to guide him to a certain team, which ended up being the Hawks.
He has great size and has shown potential as a shooter, improving his three-point efficiency each season of his collegiate career.
If he can develop into a consistent shooter, he would become an even more valuable player as stretch bigs carve out major roles in the NBA.
Veesaar could be a rotational player for Atlanta in his rookie season, as they don't have a ton of depth at the center position.
Veesaar is one of two Tar Heels who have been selected in the draft, as the Chicago Bulls selected Caleb Wilson with the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft.
North Carolina will miss Veesaar and Wilson in the 2026-27 season, but will hope they become the next Tar Heels to become stars in the NBA.
Tar Heel Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things North Carolina. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
