Tar Heels Land Top Transfer in Arizona Big Man Henri Veesaar
North Carolina picked up its second transfer portal commitment on Friday, securing a major addition in former Arizona center Henri Veesaar. The 7-foot, 235-pound sophomore is ranked No. 19 overall and the No. 2 center in the portal, according to 247Sports. His commitment marks the highest-ranked transfer to join the Tar Heels since the portal era began.
Veesaar posted averages of 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in just under 21 minutes per game during his redshirt sophomore campaign. In Big 12 play, he ranked second in offensive rating (133.7) and two-point field goal percentage (70.0%), making him one of the most efficient frontcourt players available.
Inside Carolina’s Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran joined Joey Powell on the Coast to Coast podcast to break down what Veesaar brings to Chapel Hill. Here are some highlights from their discussion:
UNC Put in the Work Behind the Scenes
McMillan: “There was a lot of groundwork, patience, and teamwork involved from the coaching staff, agent Jim Tanner, and those advising Veesaar. It all came together. This is a prime example of how Carolina is adjusting to the new era of college basketball. UNC called within minutes of Veesaar entering the portal, had him on campus within 48 hours, and he committed soon after. That shows they were prepared and had already done their homework. In this era, recruiting doesn’t start when a player enters the portal—it starts well before.”
Veesaar Adds Key Tools to Tar Heels’ Frontcourt
Moran: “One of the biggest reasons Veesaar hit the portal was his limited playing time—he was on the court for just over half of Arizona’s total minutes. But when you evaluate him on a per-minute basis, his impact is much greater than the raw stats suggest. He ranked second in offensive rating in the Big 12 and is a force on the offensive glass. While his defensive rebounding still needs polish, he’s a strong finisher around the rim and can stretch the floor a bit—though that’s not his main weapon. He brings size, length, versatility, and a high basketball IQ. It’s a significant pickup for UNC.”
Veesaar, Lubin & Wilson Give UNC a Revamped Frontcourt
McMillan: “Bringing in someone like Jalen Lubin—who’s battle-tested and has played in big moments—is huge. He and RJ Davis were two of the most impactful players during the stretch run last season. Now, with the addition of Veesaar’s rim protection and Caleb Wilson’s size and length, UNC has completely transformed its interior defense.
“You no longer need a traditional 6-foot-5 small forward when you’ve got a 6’10” power forward and a 7-footer anchoring the paint. You can funnel players inside and let the bigs take care of business.
“It’s really about that three-man core with Lubin, and then you’ve got James Brown continuing to develop. There’s now real depth at both the four and five spots. It’s a huge win for North Carolina. Last season, the defense had its holes—opponents were getting into the lane too easily. But now, with this size and athleticism down low, scoring inside is going to be a lot harder.”
Veesaar Shows Real Pro Potential Heading Into 2025-26
Moran: “There’s no doubt Veesaar has a future at the professional level. If I had to predict, I’d say he ends up playing at a high level in the EuroLeague. With his versatility and modern skill set, NBA teams will definitely take a look at him—either next season or the one after. He checks a lot of boxes for today’s centers. He does have a habit of leaning into defenders with his left shoulder, which can lead to some forced shots, but overall, the talent is there. He just needs to fine-tune a few things.”
UNC Still Has Work to Do in the Transfer Portal
McMillan: “With everything they’ve lost, UNC still has more work ahead. Veesaar is a great addition, no doubt, but this is shaping up to be a make-or-break year. In a season like that, you have to go all-in. They landed a true difference-maker—but now they need to find another one. This isn’t the traditional Carolina approach, but times have changed, and this is the reality of modern college basketball.
“It also helps fulfill the promise made to Caleb Wilson—not putting too much pressure on him to play center minutes. The frontcourt is already a major upgrade from last season. Now, it’s about completing the rest of the roster.
“Let’s not forget—Veesaar just left a team that was better than UNC this year, playing in a conference that outperformed the ACC in almost every metric. That speaks volumes about what Carolina had to offer—whether it’s NIL opportunities, projected playing time, or the recruiting pitch from Hubert Davis and his staff. They got this one right.”
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