The North Carolina Tar Heels are still putting together their roster for the 2026-27 season under new head coach Michael Malone. As they continue to build that roster, some decisions are final.
However, others aren't. That includes the status of center Henri Veesaar who spent last season with North Carolina, transferring from Arizona. Veesaar has yet to decide on whether or not to go pro and the Tar Heels are hoping to lure him back. The center is weighing the options as he hopes to receive feedback from NBA scouts and teams.
It certainly feels like a first-round grade or guarantee would mean he's gone.
While Veesaar has mostly been projected to land in the second round, a new NBA mock draft has him creeping up into the first round. It also has Caleb Wilson moving up as well.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor released a new mock draft on Wednesday, as we are still two months from the NBA Draft. In that mock, he has Wilson going No. 2 overall to the Atlanta Hawks, his hometown team. He also has Veesaar at No. 29 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here is what he says about Veesaar moving into the first round:
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. He might not even enter the draft, as he remains undecided. But if he does, it’d make perfect sense for the Cavaliers to scoop him up since he could operate as a big man next to either Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley.
Veesaar getting a first-round grade would mean he is not returning to UNC. But the Tar Heels are still pushing for his return in hopes of adding the elite big man back to the roster.
As for Wilson, there has been more and more smoke of him climbing the boards and going No. 2 or No. 3 overall, which is great to see.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Henri Veesaar moving up in NBA mock draft