RALEIGH, N.C. — After a challenging loss to NC State, North Carolina basketball coach Hubert Davis provided a mixed update on the status of his starting center, Henri Veesaar. While Davis indicated that Veesaar is making progress, it remains unclear when he might return to the court.
“The outlook for Henri is day to day. He is improving each day, both from his lower body injury and his recent bout with the flu,” Davis said. “We’ll assess his situation daily to determine when he can practice and, subsequently, when he’ll be back in games.”
A team spokesperson confirmed that Veesaar was not participating in practice on Wednesday, despite earlier indications from Davis suggesting a more imminent return. Earlier in the week, Davis noted significant improvements, mentioning, “His recent progress has been encouraging, particularly in light of both issues he’s been dealing with.”
Veesaar, who stands at seven feet tall and ranks as the second leading scorer for the Tar Heels, was questionable for the game against NC State but ultimately ruled out shortly before tipoff, following ACC protocols. This marked his second consecutive absence, having missed the earlier game against Pitt.
In the previous game, Veesaar had been dressed and took part in warmups but was sidelined prior to the contest due to illness. Team officials later clarified that his absence against NC State was exclusively related to the lower body injury. During the matchup, he was observed in street clothes, obscuring any visual assessment of his condition.
Veesaar’s injury history dates back to a game against Miami on February 10, when he left briefly due to the injury but later returned. After that game, sources indicated that further evaluations were conducted to assess the extent of his condition.
With Veesaar out, teammates Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High have stepped up to fill the void. In their absence, they have collectively scored 60 points and grabbed 39 rebounds, though the Tar Heels clearly missed Veesaar’s presence on the court.
Veesaar averages 16.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and boasts a 44.8% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. He has recorded 13 double-doubles this season, underlining his critical role within the team.
During Tuesday night’s game in Raleigh, the Tar Heels struggled offensively, matching their lowest scoring output of the season with just 58 points and being outscored in the paint 40-28, highlighting the impact of Veesaar’s absence.
The next opportunity for an update on Veesaar’s status will come this Friday when the team releases its initial availability report ahead of Saturday’s scheduled matchup against Syracuse.