Henri Veesaar, a former Arizona center who had entered the transfer portal, chose North Carolina as his next school, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported on Friday.
The 7-foot Estonian had spent the last three seasons in Tucson with head coach Tommy Lloyd, breaking out in a more prominent role as a junior to average 9.4 points, five rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 20.8 minutes.
He posted career highs in points (22) and blocks (four) in a win over Arizona State for the Wildcats’ home finale. He added 13 points and six rebounds in Arizona’s Sweet 16 loss to Duke.
Veesaar missed his entire sophomore season in 2023-24 with an elbow injury after appearing in 29 of 35 games as a true freshman.
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Arizona has had to reshuffle the deck this offseason, as freshman Emmanuel Stephen joined Veesaar as centers to leave Tucson through the transfer portal. K.J. Lewis also entered the portal while Caleb Love and Trey Townsend are among those out of eligibility.
No portal additions have come to this point, however the Wildcats expect multiple highly rated incoming freshmen such as Valley product Koa Peat. They’re also still in the running for Peat’s McDonald’s All-American Game teammate, 6-foot-4 combo guard Brayden Burries.
Motiejus Krivas, who was Arizona’s starting center before a foot injury prematurely ended his season, appears likely to return to his starting role if he stays.
Why can North Carolina use a player like Henri Veesaar?
North Carolina played without a true center this season with 6-foot-8 upperclassmen Ven-Allen Lubin and Jae’lyn Withers starting in the frontcourt in the Tar Heels’ NCAA Tournament games.
Veesaar will give coach Hubert Davis added length he hasn’t had since the 2024 departure of Armando Bacot, whom led the ACC in rebounding his last three years after Davis inherited him from the Roy Williams era of UNC basketball.
North Carolina’s biggest incoming freshman is 6-foot-9 Caleb Wilson, a top-10 prospect in the class, according to 247 Sports.
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