UNC junior center Henri Veesaar delivered the best performance of his North Carolina career Tuesday night, powering the No. 16 Tar Heels to an 85–70 victory over St. Bonaventure in the Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. With a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double — his third of the young season — the 7-foot Estonian showed exactly why he’s quickly becoming one of the Tar Heels’ most important and versatile weapons.
From the opening minutes, Veesaar found ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Just under three minutes into the second half, he delivered the play that encapsulated his growing confidence. After setting a screen for junior guard Luka Bogavac, Veesaar slipped toward the lane as Bogavac drew two defenders to the top of the key. Left completely unmarked, Veesaar caught a no-look pass, gathered himself mid-air, and flushed home an uncontested dunk that ignited the Tar Heel bench.
Head coach Hubert Davis summed it up best: “Around the rim, we were dunking everything. We were going strong, and if we didn’t finish strong or dunk, we got fouled and got to the free throw line.”
A First-Half Grind Turns Into Second-Half Domination
Despite the final margin, the first half was far from easy for UNC. The Bonnies attacked the paint aggressively, challenging Veesaar early. Less than two minutes into the game, St. Bonaventure forward Frank Mitchell caught the ball with his back to the basket. Instead of posting up, he pivoted, darted past Veesaar, and banked in a hook shot.
“It was two big men,” Mitchell said. “We both competed and both went at each other.”
St. Bonaventure didn’t just challenge the Tar Heels with scoring; they battled relentlessly for rebounds and loose balls. Veesaar had to adjust, fighting for position against Mitchell’s physical interior presence. But as the half went on, the junior center began reading angles better, sealing his man, and leveraging his length more effectively.
“I feel like Mitchell got in great position,” Veesaar said. “So I was just trying to box him out. I was in the right spots — not on the wrong side of the rebound — and that really helped me get in there.”
By halftime, Veesaar had already collected eight rebounds and eight points, including a smooth three-pointer from the top of the key. More importantly, he helped limit Mitchell to 10 points and just three boards in the opening 20 minutes.
Defensive Disruption: The Quiet Dominance
Although Veesaar isn’t the most physical big man in college basketball, his 7-foot frame, timing, and defensive instincts proved difficult for the Bonnies to overcome. Again and again, he altered shots around the rim, forced tougher looks, and made St. Bonaventure hesitate when driving the lane.
His presence alone removed several high-percentage opportunities for the Bonnies, allowing UNC to control the tempo even when the offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders.
Second-Half Surge: Offensive Versatility on Full Display
If the first half was about grit, the second half was about finesse, patience, and smart basketball. Veesaar showcased every element of his versatile offensive game.
With UNC holding a 63-52 lead and under 10 minutes left, freshman guard Derek Dixon found himself trapped along the baseline. As the defense collapsed on Dixon, Veesaar flashed into open space, received the dish, and attacked the rim. He executed a subtle head fake that sent a defender soaring past him before finishing the layup with ease.
“My teammates were finding me on easy layups,” Veesaar said. “They gave me a little advantage, and I was able to take care of that.”
From pick-and-roll finishes to perfectly timed slips to the rim, Veesaar consistently punished St. Bonaventure for every defensive mistake. He stretched the floor, finished through contact, and ran the floor with energy — all while logging 35 high-intensity minutes, the most of his UNC career.
A Rising Star With a Pro Future
While UNC fans have watched Veesaar’s steady rise since the season began, Tuesday night felt like a declaration — a performance that signaled he’s ready for a much larger role.
He’s not the bruising, back-you-down center of old-school basketball. But his combination of length, touch, intelligence, and mobility makes him a modern big man built for today’s game.
Even his opponent took notice.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Mitchell said after the game. “He’s a pro. He’s going to have a great season.”
Looking Ahead
For the Tar Heels, the victory over the Bonnies not only pushed them forward in the Fort Myers Tip-Off but also revealed an identity forming around balanced scoring, interior toughness, and vastly improved rim protection.
At the heart of that identity is Veesaar.
If Tuesday night is any indication, UNC’s season ceiling may depend on how far the emerging junior center can push his game — and he appears nowhere close to done.
With confidence rising, chemistry building, and a coaching staff committed to unlocking his full potential, Henri Veesaar is quickly becoming one of the most impactful big men in the ACC.
And for North Carolina, that is a very good sign of things to come.
