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The NBA Draft is quickly approaching on June 23, with a pair of Tar Heels<\/a> projected to be first round selections and hopeful, Day One starters.<\/p>\n Caleb Wilson<\/a>, who took the college basketball world by storm before playing his last game at Miami (FL), averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Henri Veesaar<\/a> thrived transferring in from Arizona, posting career-highs of 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.<\/p>\n In USA TODAY Sports’ NBA Mock Draft 12.0<\/a>, Wilson goes third overall to the Brooklyn Nets, while Veesaar goes 27th overall to the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n “One general manager also told Jake Fischer that \u201cevery team\u201d is going to have North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson over either one of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Darryn Peterson,” Bryan Kalbrosky writes. “His injury, which caused him to miss the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb, did not hurt his draft stock at all. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season,\u00a0did more than enough to earn this placement.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Veesaar debated returning to UNC<\/a>, but he quickly turned into a first round projection. With a skillset like his, Veesaar is NBA-ready, just like his former frontcourt mate Wilson.<\/p>\n “We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina,” Kalbrosky writes. “The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes on an expedited timeline, like the Celtics, will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered \u201cat least $6 million\u201d in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Regardless of where Wilson and Veesaar<\/a> go, it’s exciting \u2013 but also bittersweet \u2013 to see two North Carolina stars playing at the next level.<\/p>\n Follow us\u00a0@TarHeelsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThese two Tar Heels provided endless excitement in Chapel Hill last season.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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