The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft has concluded, with several notable prospects left on the board heading into Wednesday’s second round, including North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar.
The Estonian big man is set to be one of the headliners of Round 2, with many seeking intel on his unexpected draft slide.
Henri Veesaar’s 2026 NBA Draft Weaknesses Resurface After Slide Into Second Round
Veesaar, who turned down the opportunity to return to North Carolina for another year and earn millions in NIL money, was widely projected to be a late first-round draft pick.
UNC’s Henri Veesaar does not get selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. He slips into the second round.
Turned down between $3-4 million to return to UNC? Maybe more?
— Ross Martin (@RossMartinNC) June 24, 2026
PFSN billed Veesaar as a “7-footer known for his advanced footwork, rim protection, and improved offensive versatility” who “combines a high motor with good hands and quick leaping ability, making him an effective lob threat and rim protector.”
MORE: Why Did Meleek Thomas Slide Out of First Round? Breaking Down Reasons for Arkansas Star’s 2026 NBA Draft Slide
However, concerns lingered about his relatively “lean frame” (227 pounds) and “limited explosiveness,” which he “compensates for with his footwork and fundamentals.” Veesaar has also dealt with injury setbacks and is older than most prospects at 22, which has been known to give NBA front offices pause when making first-round selections.
As such, PFSN tabbed Veesaar as a “developmental NBA prospect,” whose “size, smarts, and touch make him a modern rim-protecting big with upside for an evolving frontcourt role.”
Given the surplus of talent in this year’s first round, the question marks surrounding Veesaar being able to hold his own against NBA frontcourts seemingly prevailed. Multiple more athletic big men, including Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance and UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr., were ultimately selected in the 20s on Tuesday, leaving Veesaar as the odd man out.
Per basketball analyst Jeff Goodman, Veesaar was one of three first-round hopefuls with college eligibility who opted to remain in the draft and didn’t get selected Tuesday, along with Duke’s Isaiah Evans and Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas.
With the 1st round complete, 3 guys that had eligibility and opted to remain in the draft that were not selected:
Isaiah Evans (Duke)- Agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman
Henri Veesaar (UNC) – Agent Jason Ranne of Wasserman
Meleek Thomas (Arkansas) – Agent Sam Permut of Roc…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 24, 2026
Still, Veesaar remains an enticing second-round option. He averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 3-pointers per game across 31 outings in the 2025-26 season, his first with the Tar Heels after transferring from Arizona. The 2026 Second-Team All-ACC selectee also shot an efficient 60.8% from the field and 42.6% from 3-point range, standout shooting marks for his size.
Round 2 will commence on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the New York Knicks owning the first selection of the evening (31st), followed by the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets rounding out picks 32 to 35.