UNC’s Henri Veesaar Drafted by Los Angeles Clippers, Traded to Atlanta Hawks

Henri Veesaar is league-bound.

The seven-foot center, who spent the 2025-26 season with UNC after committing to the Tar Heels out of the transfer portal, was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 52 overall pick in the NBA Draft, who then traded that pick to the Atlanta Hawks.

Veesaar spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Arizona, redshirting one due to an injury. He flourished in Chapel Hill after becoming a full-time starter, posting career highs in minutes (31.4), points (17.0), rebounds (8.7) and assists (2.1) per game. The seven-footer also became UNC’s best three-point shooter, making 42.6 percent of his attempts.

Veesaar missed two games for UNC with a midseason injury but started every other game in which he appeared. In those 31 games, Veesaar only failed to reach double figures one time. He scored at least 20 points nine times and recorded 15 double-doubles. Veesaar recorded career highs in both points and rebounds with a 28-point, 17-rebound performance in an ACC Tournament loss to Clemson. He was named second team All-ACC.

Veesaar is the second Tar Heel to be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, after Caleb Wilson was selected No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bulls. This is the first time since 2019 UNC has had multiple players selected in a single NBA Draft.

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

‹

UNC's Caleb Wilson Selected by Chicago Bulls with No. 4 Overall Pick in 2026 NBA Draft

Caleb Wilson is headed to the Windy City. The Chicago Bulls selected the star UNC freshman forward with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft. Wilson is the highest-picked Tar Heel in the NBA Draft since Marvin Williams went No. 2 overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 2005. Carolina […]

Matt Able Withdraws From NBA Draft, Will Play for UNC Men's Basketball Next Season

Matt Able, who committed to UNC out of the transfer portal in April after playing his freshman season at NC State but also went through the NBA Draft Combine process, withdrew his name from the draft Monday. Able has already signed with the Tar Heels, meaning he is locked in to playing for the program […]

UNC's Caleb Wilson Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson will forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2026 NBA Draft, he announced on social media Friday night. Wilson’s announcement comes less than a week after the university dismissed Hubert Davis as the head coach of the men’s basketball program. View this post on Instagram Wilson finished his freshman […]

UNC's Drake Powell Headed to Brooklyn Nets in 2025 NBA Draft

Drake Powell is league-bound. The former Tar Heel standout, who spent his lone college season with UNC, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft Wednesday night. However, due to a three-team trade between the Hawks, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, Powell […]

Chansky's Notebook: Tweener No More

When Harrison Ingram transferred to UNC, it was almost a sure bet he would stay two seasons in Chapel Hill.

Brady Manek Signs With Charlotte Hornets

Brady Manek is league-bound, and he won’t have to travel very far. The UNC men’s basketball star and fan favorite signed with the Charlotte Hornets Friday afternoon, and will play with the team in the NBA’s annual Summer League. @BradyManek is heading to Charlotte for this year's Summer League 🔥 Congratulations to Brady Manek and […]

Former Tar Heel Garrison Brooks Signs Contract With New York Knicks

Garrison Brooks is headed to the Big Apple. The former Tar Heel big man, who spent last year playing at Mississippi State, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks Friday. BREAKING NEWS: Former UNC basketball standout Garrison Brooks has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks.https://t.co/jPIhfFNcuF — Keeping It […]

Holding Court: Building A Champion in the 21st Century

How Many Future NBA Players Does It Take To Build An NCAA Champion In Modern Era? By David Glenn   (Part Five of a Six-Part NCAA/NBA Draft Series leading up to the June 23 NBA Draft, following Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four) When one or two Kansas players (senior guard Ochai […]

Chansky's Notebook: Deadline Dilemma

Is Hubert Davis willing to play the waiting game? One week remains before the deadline for players who have declared for the NBA Draft to pull themselves out and return to college. And some of them are also in the transfer portal and can pick a second school to play for next season. It’s pretty […]

Here's the Summer Timeline for Potential NBA Draft Eligibility

This summer will see plenty of roster turnover across the college basketball landscape, as players choose to either stay in school, enter the transfer portal or enter their name into the annual NBA Draft. Only one UNC starter, graduate forward Brady Manek, has completely exhausted his collegiate eligibility. Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, Caleb Love and […]

›