Huge Boost, UNC Officially Upgraded Frontcourt

North Carolina secured its second transfer portal addition on Friday with the commitment of former Arizona center Henri Veesaar. The 7-foot, 235-pound big man is rated by 247Sports as the No. 19 overall player and the No. 2 center available in the portal. He’s now the highest-ranked transfer to commit to UNC since the portal era began.

As a redshirt sophomore this past season, Veesaar averaged 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds over 20.8 minutes per game. In Big 12 competition, he ranked second in both offensive rating (133.7) and two-point field goal percentage (70.0%). Inside Carolina analysts Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran joined host Joey Powell on the Coast to Coast podcast to discuss Veesaar’s impact and what he brings to the Tar Heels. Here are the highlights from their breakdown:

UNC DID A LOT OF LEG WORK TO GET DEAL DONE WITH VEESAAR

 

 

McMillan: “This recruitment really showcased the effort, patience, and teamwork between the UNC coaching staff, Jim Tanner, and Veesaar’s advisors. It’s a clear sign that North Carolina is adjusting well to the evolving landscape of college basketball. Veesaar entered the portal and got a call from UNC within minutes. Two days later, he was already on campus and then committed shortly after. That kind of quick turnaround shows they had done their homework and had conversations with the right people beforehand. Recruitment doesn’t start the moment a player enters the portal—it starts well before that.”

VEESAAR BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE NEXT SEASON

Moran: “The main reason Veesaar hit the portal was because he only played about 51.5% of the available minutes. But when you evaluate him on a per-minute basis, the value he brings is much greater than his raw stats suggest. He had the second-highest offensive rating in the Big 12, and he’s a strong presence on the offensive glass. His defensive rebounding could use improvement, but he’s an effective finisher around the rim. He has the ability to stretch the floor a bit, though that’s not necessarily his strongest suit. He brings size, length, versatility, and a high basketball IQ—this is a major addition for UNC.”

UNC HAS A VASTLY IMPROVED FRONTCOURT WITH VEESAAR, WILSON AND LUBIN

McMillan: “Having a player like Lubin, who’s experienced and has played in big-time games, is incredibly valuable. Over the final month of the season, RJ Davis and Lubin were UNC’s most impactful players. Now, with the addition of Veesaar and Caleb Wilson’s length and size, there’s legitimate rim protection. That opens up a lot of flexibility on the perimeter. You’re no longer reliant on the traditional 6-foot-5 small forward when you have a 6-foot-10 power forward and a 7-footer in the paint. You can channel offensive threats toward the basket and let your bigs handle the rest.

 

 

“It really comes down to a three-man frontcourt rotation with Lubin. Plus, James Brown continues to develop, giving Carolina real depth at the four and five spots. This is a massive boost for UNC in a lot of ways. Last season, the defense struggled—guys were getting into the paint far too easily. Now, with this kind of size and athleticism inside, it’s going to be a lot harder for opponents to score.”

VEESAAR HAS FUTURE PRO POTENTIAL ENTERING 2025-26

Moran: “He absolutely has pro potential. If I had to bet, I’d say he ends up playing at a high level in the EuroLeague. With his versatility, he’ll definitely get looks from NBA teams—maybe next year or the year after. He has a lot of the qualities teams want in today’s modern centers. One thing he does need to clean up is his tendency to lean into defenders with his left shoulder, which can lead to forcing shots. But overall, the skill set is there. There’s still room for development, but the pro upside is real.”

STILL WORK LEFT FOR UNC IN THE PORTAL

 

 

McMillan: “Given everything UNC has lost, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Landing Veesaar is a big move in the right direction, but this is a make-or-break season—and in that kind of year, you have to go all in. They’ve found a difference-maker, but now they’ve got to repeat that process. This whole approach is very different from how Carolina has traditionally operated, but it’s what’s needed in today’s college basketball landscape. It also helps deliver on the promise to Caleb Wilson—they didn’t want him thinking he’d be forced to play center.

“The frontcourt should be much more dynamic and impactful than it was last season. The next step is filling out the rest of the roster. Veesaar left a program that was stronger than UNC this past season, in a conference that outperformed the ACC by nearly every metric. That speaks volumes about what UNC has to offer—between NIL opportunities, playing time, and the vision laid out by Hubert Davis, Jim Tanner, and the staff, it was a compelling package.”