CHAPEL HILL — There’s one UNC basketball question that was asked incessantly by fans and haters of the Tar Heels alike throughout the 2024-25 season.
“Why doesn’t UNC have a big man?”
Looking back, it was a fair question. The program known for producing elite centers didn’t have an answer. The Tar Heels had a big problem, with no player capable of consistently solving it in the post.
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Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar is capable of solving that problem in the 2025-26 season as the Tar Heels’ latest center. A 7-footer originally from Estonia, Veesaar is a tone-setting big, with skills that should give UNC a major boost defensively and on the boards.
The additions of 6-foot-10 forwards Caleb Wilson and Jarin Stevenson also add to the improved length on the interior, but Veesaar will allow Wilson and Stevenson to stick with and play their true positions.
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“As I said before, it wasn’t necessarily, you know, build around (Veesaar). It was to build a team and continue to grow the team that we felt like we needed in order to compete at a high level this year,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said during a recent press conference.
“And so obviously, having Henri, someone with that size and that type of experience, something that we wanted and something that we needed. As I said before, just really happy Henri’s here.”
As much as they tried to compete at that high level last season, the Tar Heels ran into trouble when they played teams with tremendous size at the rim. Auburn, Clemson, Duke, Florida and Kansas were among the squads that used their length to overwhelm UNC. Three of those teams ended their seasons at the Final Four.
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UNC simply didn’t have enough on the interior to make a substantial mark, limping into the NCAA Tournament’s First Four with 6-foot-8 forward Ven-Allen Lubin as the starting center. Lubin was great down the stretch to help the Heels get in the mix for a March Madness bid, logging a double-double performance in seven of his final 10 games before bolting to N.C. State.
But he was never going to be the long-term fix for a UNC program that desperately needed to get bigger in an attempt to increase its odds of boosting rebounding and defensive numbers.
“Henri is, he’s got tremendous size, and it’s not just blocking shots, but it’s altering shots as well. He’s a really good rebounder, and so, throughout his career, he’s been able to play a number of different defenses, whether it’s different coverages on ball screens or being able to switch,” Davis said.
“He can guard guards out on the perimeter, and teams and individuals that have the ability to do that make them a really good defensive team, and that’s something that’s a high priority for us. I’ve talked about rebounding, but you got to defend. We got to be a really good defensive team, and you have someone like Henri, who also is older, and he’s very vocal, which allows us to have really good communication. That’s something that’s a huge benefit for us.”
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UNC’s 36.7 rebounding average last season is the lowest since the 2002-03 team averaged 34.2 rebounds per game the year before Roy Williams arrived in Chapel Hill. With an offensive rebounding percentage of 29.1%, according to KenPom, UNC posted its worst mark in that category of the KenPom era, which dates back to 1997.
UNC’s defense was 104th in 2-point percentage (49.1%), which is the program’s worst finish in that stat since 2004.
Veesaar has the game to improve the Tar Heels in both areas, particularly as a rim protector and offensive rebounder. A starter in just five of 37 games last season for the Wildcats, Veesaar averaged 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just over 20 minutes per game. He’ll have a much bigger role in Chapel Hill.
“I think, partially, what (Hubert Davis) really liked about me was how I can alter shots and block shots,” Veesaar said during his first press conference as a Tar Heel. “I think that’s what they were missing a little bit last year, and I think that’s what he was looking for.”
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So, how much has Veesaar heard about offensive rebounding in practice?
“It’s a big key in practice,” he said with a laugh.
“I think we hear it every practice if we’re not going enough. I think we’re doing a really good job this year of getting offensive rebounds. Personally, last year in my college career, I think that was the area I was pretty good at. I definitely have to get better at defensive rebounding compared to last year to help the team out.”
Count guard Kyan Evans, a Colorado State transfer, among the believers.
“The first week we got here, I don’t know who it was, but (Veesaar) just started getting the ball on the block and he was dunking on people backwards,” Evans said.
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Described as a “freak” and “super-skilled big” by Evans, Veesaar looks the part and is playing the role so far as UNC prepares for preseason practice.
“He can beat you a lot of ways. … He’s good. He’s special, for sure,” Evans said.
Throughout its history, UNC has produced some of the most special centers in the sport.
Sean May, Tyler Hansbrough, Kennedy Meeks and Armando Bacot are among the recent Tar Heel bigs to patrol the post as players who helped the program win ACC championships and advance to the Final Four. Entering his junior season, Veesaar doesn’t have to be those guys to give UNC what it needs from the center position.
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But an increased role should allow the 7-footer a chance to show he’s capable of answering the question that couldn’t be answered last season in Chapel Hill.
Veesaar can solve the Tar Heels’ big problem.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball: Henri Veesaar gives Tar Heels answer at center
