Henri Veesaar is forming one of the best frontcourt duos in the country with Caleb Wilson at North Carolina. Both players have helped North Carolina come strong out of the starting gate. Can the momentum continue?
Henri Veesaar Is Proving How Valuable He Is at North Carolina
Henri Veesaar is already starting to make a name for himself in Chapel Hill. Veesaar’s path to becoming a Tar Heel has been very unique. Originally from Estonia, Veesaar played for Real Madrid’s youth team before committing to the Arizona Wildcats to play for Tommy Lloyd. Veesaar barely played in his first season and eventually redshirted for the 2023-24 season. However, a strong junior season for the Wildcats led to Veesaar transferring to North Carolina before the 2025-26 season.
The 2024-25 season was disappointing for North Carolina relative to expectations. North Carolina had Final Four aspirations before the season but came up painfully short. They finished 23-14 and lost to Ole Miss in the first round, sparking a significant roster retool this past offseason. Drake Powell and RJ Davis went to the NBA, while Elliott Cadeau and Ian Jackson transferred. However, amidst five-star Caleb Wilson’s strong start to the season, it appears North Carolina struck gold getting Henri Veesaar in the transfer portal.
Veesaar Is Already Off to a Strong Start
As a redshirt sophomore, Veesaar averaged 9.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 37 games. He also stood out for his offensive efficiency. He shot 59.2% from the field and made 66.9% of his two-point shots. Despite starting only five games, Veesaar was an integral piece to the Wildcats making the Sweet 16. Now, Veesaar is off to a hot start to his junior season at North Carolina and appears to be what the Tar Heels were looking for.
Veesaar has already started in every game he has played for the Tar Heels and has not disappointed so far. Entering North Carolina’s game against St. Bonaventure, Veesaar was averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. Veesaar has not just built on his efficiency inside the arc, but he also looks more comfortable shooting threes than he was at Arizona. Veesaar’s ability to score at different levels and create possessions has been a significant boost for the Tar Heels.
Henri Veesaar had arguably his best game of the season against St. Bonaventure. In 35 minutes of game action, Veesaar secured a double-double, scoring a career-high 24 points, and his 13 rebounds were also a career best. Veesaar also added 3 assists and 3 steals against St. Bonaventure. After just six games, it already appears that Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson are one of the best frontcourt duos in all of college basketball.
The Verdict
When looking at the current landscape of college basketball, there are many strong frontcourts around the country, such as at Florida and Arizona,etc. However, North Carolina’s frontcourt should be discussed as one of the best in the country. Caleb Wilson already has the makings of a future lottery pick, but Henri Veesaar’s impact cannot be ignored. The duo of Wilson and Veesaar could finally allow North Carolina to inch closer to a national championship under Hubert Davis.
Featured Image: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
