Overview
- Veesaar declared Friday and intends to remain in the 2026 NBA Draft, with CBS Sports ranking him No. 26 and projecting late first-round consideration.
- He just delivered a breakout season at North Carolina with 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and roughly 42% three-point shooting, earning Second Team All-ACC honors.
- Multiple programs offered at least $6 million to pull him into the transfer portal, while UNC could have reached about $4 million, according to CBS Sports reporting.
- The exit removes UNC’s centerpiece as Malone reshapes the roster after adding guards Neoklis Avdalas, Terrence Brown and Matt Able through the portal.
- Options at center are scarce, as CBS Sports notes nearly 90 of the top 100 transfers have committed and top big man Massamba Diop is weighing heavy interest from Gonzaga and St. John’s.