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

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