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North Carolina<\/a> big man Henri Veesaar<\/a> is entering the 2026 NBA Draft<\/a>, a source told CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander.\u00a0The 7-foot center was a Second Team All-ACC selection after averaging 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists while shooting over 42% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n Veesaar is slotted at No. 26 in the CBS Sports NBA Draft prospect rankings. He is projected to be a late first-round pick, but now has a chance to go even higher after potential first-rounders like\u00a0Florida’s<\/a> Thomas Haugh<\/a>, Duke’s<\/a> Patrick Ngongba and UConn’s<\/a> Braylon Mullins<\/a> all announced that they will return to college basketball next season.<\/p>\n North Carolina had a massive NIL contract on the table for Veesaar, who would have been positioned to be the Preseason ACC Player of the Year in 2026-27. The big man still has the option to return to UNC, but he is expected to stay in the NBA Draft, barring a change of heart.<\/p>\n It’s a critical blow to North Carolina’s immediate 2026-27 outlook under new coach Michael Malone. The Tar Heels have done yeoman’s work in the portal, reeling in three top-50 transfers in Virginia Tech’s<\/a> Neoklis Avdalas<\/a>, Utah’s<\/a> Terrence Brown<\/a> and NC State’s<\/a> Matt Able<\/a>. But Veesaar was positioned to be the head honcho.<\/p>\n Now Malone has to pivot to try and find a replacement at the final hour, and the options in the center market are slim. Arizona State’s Massamba Diop<\/a> is the top-rated big man on the board, but Gonzaga<\/a> and St. John’s<\/a> are major players with a decision looming shortly. Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam<\/a> is another big-time option, but Michigan<\/a> just hosted the 7-foot shot-blocker for a visit.<\/p>\n Other potential options for UNC could include Georgetown<\/a> transfer Julius Halaifonua<\/a>, Washington<\/a> big man Franck Kepnang<\/a> or Texas Tech<\/a> transfer Luke Bamgboye<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n But time is running out. Nearly 90 of the top-100 players in the 2026 transfer portal window<\/a> have chosen their next school.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n