What UNC basketball’s Henri Veesaar brings to Atlanta Hawks

UNC basketball’s Henri Veesaar was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 52 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 24, in Brooklyn.

Caleb Wilson was selected No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bulls, but Veesaar had to wait until the second round to hear his name called at the Barclays Center. A 7-foot center from Estonia, Veesaar averaged a career-best 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his lone season with the Tar Heels. He was consistently one of the top inside-out options in the nation for UNC.

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Here are Veesaar’s stats, his strengths and weaknesses, and what his future could look like as an NBA player.

Why did Henri Veesaar slide into 2026 NBA Draft second round?

After missing out on a first-round selection and getting well into the second round, Veesaar finally heard his name called toward the end of the draft. At some point in the process, the conversations with the teams center around two-way deals, which are restrictive contracts tied to an organization's developmental team, allowing a player to bounce between the G League and NBA. In some cases, a player is better off searching and waiting for a guarantee from one particular team, even if it means going undrafted. The right fit and right contract are more important than draft position, but if money was the ultimate goal, Veesaar missed out on a big payday by opting to leave the Tar Heels.

Henri Veesaar stats

A modern post player, Veesaar averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels. After not logging a double-double in two seasons at Arizona, Veesaar was 17th nationally with 15 double-doubles across 31 games. He had 58 dunks and 40 3-pointers, knocking down 60.8% of his shots, including 42.6% of his attempts from 3-point range.

Henri Veesaar strengths

Veesaar’s efficiency and his ability to play both in the post and on the perimeter make him the perfect big man for today’s NBA. He’s a 7-footer who can shoot, pass and dribble. He’s an elite floor-spacing center and has great mobility. Veesaar also thrived in pick-and-roll situations, whether it was on the interior or popping out beyond the arc.

Henri Veesaar weaknesses

Veesaar probably needs to add some muscle and pounds to his wiry frame and his defense stands to improve. Opposing players were able to go through his chest at times or blow by him in screening situations on plays that resulted in a foul or bucket. There are more positives than negatives with Veesaar, but there are several areas of needed improvement.

Henri Veesaar’s NBA future

As a floor-spacing 7-footer, Veesaar projects as a contributor for a team in need of shooting, size, playmaking and rebounding. Despite the defensive questions and worries about his strength, Veesaar could be one of the steals from this draft because of his status as a prototypical big in today's NBA.

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What UNC basketball’s Henri Veesaar brings to Atlanta Hawks