All eyes remain on Henri Veesaar as the North Carolina standout continues to weigh his options for next season. At this point, the situation appears fairly straightforward, with two likely paths ahead: return to North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball or declare for the NBA Draft and begin his professional journey.
While there’s always the slim possibility of a surprise transfer portal entry, that outcome feels unlikely. Assuming his decision comes down to those two choices, recent projections are once again reinforcing the idea that another year in Chapel Hill could be the smartest move for his long-term development.
That perspective gained traction after Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports released his latest mock draft. In the projection, Veesaar is expected to slip into the second round, with the Los Angeles Clippers selecting him at No. 36 overall.
O’Connor detailed the big man’s strengths, writing, “Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. Brook Lopez won’t start forever, so the Clippers need to make more investments in the future.”
Ultimately, the decision could hinge on how much value he places on being a first-round pick. If he remains in the draft and lands with Los Angeles, he would have the opportunity to develop behind a veteran like Lopez and potentially step into a larger role sooner rather than later, which is an appealing scenario.
On the flip side, returning to UNC offers plenty of upside as well. Another season at the college level would allow him to continue refining his game, increase his draft stock, and potentially secure a strong NIL deal while earning significant playing time. It also gives him the chance to keep developing under Michael Malone, making the idea of staying in school just as attractive.
Since Malone’s arrival, retaining key talent has clearly been a priority for the program. The addition of transfer Neoklis Avdalas is a step forward, though decisions from other players like Juke Harris and Terrence Brown are still pending. Keeping Veesaar in the fold could strengthen UNC’s pitch to other transfer targets and signal that the program is fully committed to making next season a memorable one.
For now, the wait continues as fans eagerly anticipate his final call.