By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — With a shooting range that stretches to the mountains of North Carolina, Henri Veesaar’s perimeter threat is becoming lethal for the Tar Heels.
With his feet in the geographical representation of North Carolina on Roy Williams Court during warmups, the 7–0 Arizona transfer routinely flutters the net with his high-arching shot, which makes his in-game attempts from just behind the arc look simple.
It felt that way Monday night when he fired in a career‑high four three‑pointers (on five attempts) and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds during No. 12 North Carolina’s 99–51 rout of East Carolina at the Smith Center.
“I feel like everybody who’s a decent shooter can make it from there,” Veesaar said of his long-range pregame shots.
Veesaar said the foundation of his perimeter game was laid over months of repetition, mechanical work and plenty of shots during practice from Stephen Curry’s shooting range. That started at Arizona at the behest of Assistant Coach Ken Nakagama.
“He kind of made me shoot over somewhere from there, far beyond the NBA line,” said Veesaar, whose previous high was two 3-pointers, which he did eight times. “Just being able to really use my feet, and I get better mechanics out of it. So I kind of, before every game, try to shoot from far away to make sure my feet are involved and just don’t shoot in my arms.”
He trusts the shot under pressure because of his length and release. If it’s a guard who is trying to close out on Veesaar, an attempt to get a hand in his face is unlikely to reach that high.
“I know I have a high release point. I have a pretty high arc, too. So, I feel like I can get my normal shot off even with a close out,” he said, adding that summer work sharpened his instincts to find attempts he previously bypassed. “Everything that we did over summer practices in the games, just seeing where I had passed up on threes, or where I can hunt them better.”
The volume has been there in workouts as well. During a workout about 18 months ago, Veesaar said he made around 26 or 28 consecutive attempts.
Don’t expect to see Veesaar firing up shots in games from Curry range, though. He says shot selection remains the guiding principle, and there hasn’t been a discussion with the coaches about attempting more 3-pointers.
“Just take good ones,” he said. “That’s been really the discussion. Coaches say hunt good shots. And whenever I can find easy shots, it’s best if it’s not early in the shot clock. But if you’re open early in the shot clock, shoot it.”
Coach Hubert Davis views Veesaar’s shooting as a strategic lever that changes how defenses must guard UNC’s frontcourt.
“His ability to shoot the basketball is real,” Davis said. “Obviously, he can score around the basket, but he’s pretty good beyond the arc. You can see us trying to throw the ball to Caleb [Wilson] and Henri down low on the post. They’re getting met with two to three guys. And, so, when that happens, you have to make teams pay. And the only way you can make them pay is either hit from three or drive off of closeouts.”
Veesaar often lures shot-blocking centers out to the arc, which opens inside opportunities for Wilson and others. The ripple effects of that spacing have aligned with UNC’s broader emphasis on ball movement.
“I think it’s the fourth straight game that we’ve had 20 assists or more,” Davis said. “So, just sharing the basketball, and we’re in a good spot in regards to getting everybody involved.”
On Monday, Veesaar’s 3s complemented a game where Davis said, “We were living in transition.”
Veesaar’s value, though, extends beyond catch-and-shoot threes. He sees himself as a connector who can punish switches and make the next pass.
“For the passing, I feel like just making the right reads, keeping the game simple. I think I need to do a better job of keeping my turnovers low,” said Veesaar, who has combined for only 10 turnovers in the last seven games. “So, just making the easy passes sometimes — like the assists are one thing. But I feel like I kind of understand it. Like just having hockey assists. I get just as much joy out of that as an assist, as long as the team scores and we make the right plays.”
When opponents are switching on screens, icing or dropping their big men back, Veesaar’s shooting ability gives UNC many options.
“We just make a simple fix and tell Henri to pop,” guard Seth Trimble said. “And if teams can’t get out fast enough, we know it’s pretty much automatic. We’re pretty confident that if we get Henri on an open pop, it will go in. We’re willing to live with that possession. It just expands our team, expands our game so much.”
Davis said that Veesaar’s offensive versatility brings so many elements to the Tar Heels’ offense.
“He can score with either hand around the basket. He’s a gifted passer. He’s got a nice floater and mid-range game. He can shoot from three,” Davis said. “Give him the ball and put him in ball-screen action, and he can make plays off of that. Being able to move him around even more, put him in different spots, is going to be key for us to be able to take advantage of his skill set.”
As ACC play looms, the combination of spacing, pace and passing figures to be central to the Tar Heels’ identity after they scored a season-high 12 3-pointers.
“I felt like we took really good threes and we stepped up and were able to make them tonight,” Davis said.
On Monday, the floor opened for UNC to run, share and shoot, thanks to Veesaar. If those mechanics and reads carry into conference play, Veesaar’s range won’t just stretch to the mountains in warmups; it will stretch ACC defenses in real time.
Tar Heel duo double-doubles
John Henson and Tyler Zeller 2011–12 — 9
Rusty Clark and Larry Miller 1966–67 — 8
Pete Brennan and Lennie Rosenbluth 1955–56 — 7
Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson, 2025–26 — 6 (N.C. Central, St. Bonaventure, Kentucky, Georgetown, Ohio State and ECU)
Phil Ford and Mitch Kupchak 1975–76 — 6
Lee Dedmon and Charlie Scott 1969–70 — 6
Brennan and Rosenbluth 1956–57 — 6
Brennan and Joe Quigg 1956–57 — 6
Photos courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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