Henri Veesaar has been on an absolute tear lately, and for Tar Heel fans, it's bittersweet. While this season is hopefully far from over, it's impossible not to glance ahead at what Carolina basketball could look like next year, and whether their star center will still be in Chapel Hill to see it.
When you look at the potential roster, fans can get excited about the potential starting five next season, especially with the additions of highly touted recruits such as combo guard Dylan Mingo and power forward Maximo Adams. This fills in a potential starting five next season, with the biggest question mark coming at the center position.
That question hinges entirely on Henri Veesaar's decision. Coming off a breakout first year in Chapel Hill, Veesaar faces a choice: return to Chapel Hill for a second year or declare for the NBA draft and turn pro.
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Here's where the bittersweet part kicks in. Veesaar's recent performances have been so dominant that they're actively hurting UNC's chances of keeping him. In the ACC tournament loss to Clemson, Veesaar exploded for 28 points and 17 rebounds on 62.5% shooting, including three makes from beyond the arc. It was a statement game, the kind that gets NBA scouts' attention.
Every monster performance like that raises his draft stock and makes a return to Carolina less likely. While Tar Heel fans would love nothing more than to see Veesaar run it back for another season, all signs point toward him turning pro.
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NBA mock drafts have him ranked as a consensus early second-rounder at the moment, and depending on his performance in the tournament, that stock could potentially rise higher and shoot him into the first round, making his chance at a second year in Chapel Hill even slimmer.
While Veesaar's likely departure may leave a question mark at the center position for next season, Tar Heel fans can take pride in the fact that he had this breakout season in Carolina blue. No matter where his career takes him, he'll always be a Tar Heel.
As I said, this season is hopefully far from over. Veesaar still has a stage to perform on as he carries the focal load for this North Carolina team into the tournament. If the Tar Heels are going to make a deep run in the bracket, it'll be on the back of their star junior center, giving UNC fans a few more weeks to watch him dominate before he potentially heads off to the next level.