2025-26 UNC basketball starter early second-rounder in NBA Mock Draft

[ASFN Admin]

While the UNC men's basketball team awaits a decision on the head coaching future of Hubert Davis, it's never too early to start looking ahead.

North Carolina's 2026-27 roster will look vastly different, but there's still plenty of unknowns. Caleb Wilson previously teased a return, but despite a season-ending injury that caused the Tar Heels to spiral, he's a projected lottery pick in June's NBA Draft.

Another NBA hopeful is UNC center Henri Veesaar, who enjoyed a career season by averaging 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

In Bleacher Report's latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Veesaar goes early in the second round, with the Sacramento Kings selecting him 34th overall.

Henri Veesaar has become one of the draft's top play-finishers, who's also now hit 30 three-pointers," NBA Draft Insider Jonathan Wasserman wrote. "He doesn't block many shots for a 7-footer, but offensively, he has become incredibly productive and efficient with a translatable and coveted inside-out scoring package."

Veesaar turned from a sparingly-utilized bench player at Arizona, to a productive, full-time starter at North Carolina. The Tar Heels paired Veesaar, who can either slam dunks home in the post or step out and nail 3-pointers, with Wilson to form the country's top frontcourt duo.

Ideally, players want to be projected first-round guys, so there's a solid chance Veesaar returns for his senior campaign. With all the uncertainty in Chapel Hill right now, plus no guarantee that Zayden High returns, Veesaar coming back makes UNC a team to watch in the 2026-27 season.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Henri Veesaar selected 34th overall in Bleacher Report NBA Mock Draft

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