By R.L. Bynum
The departures of Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson mark only the second time in UNC program history that two players with remaining eligibility have left for the NBA after only one season in Chapel Hill.
Even before he arrived on campus, it was assumed that freshman Caleb Wilson would be a Tar Heel for only one season. There was hope among UNC fans that the Tar Heels would get Veesaar for two seasons, but that won’t be the case.
The only other time Carolina had two players leave for the NBA with eligibility remaining after only one season was in 2019, when freshmen Coby White and Nassir Little were drafted.
Veesaar and Wilson push the total of such players to 12, two who left national champions: Marvin Williams and Tony Bradley.
Although there haven’t been nearly as many UNC players who turned pro after only one season as there have been at Duke, the first such Tar Heel did so 54 years ago.
Bob McAdoo, known as Robert during his season playing for Coach Dean Smith, came to UNC from Vincennes Junior College and led Carolina to the 1972 Final Four.
Each player arrived with a pro timetable, or developed into one faster than expected, causing roster turnover.
1972: McAdoo
McAdoo played at UNC for the 1971–72 season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds, then went No. 2 overall in the 1972 NBA draft. He was the NBA MVP in 1975 with the Buffalo Braves and won NBA titles in 1982 and 1985 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
2005: Williams
Williams was part of the 2005 national-championship team as the ACC Rookie of the Year, then left for the NBA as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. His imprint was versatility off the bench, as the kind of forward who could toggle between roles and keep a loaded team balanced. Williams, who never started a game at UNC, played 16 NBA seasons with four teams.
2007: Brandan Wright
Wright earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors when he played the 2006–07 season at Carolina, then became the No. 8 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He changed the geometry of the floor, forcing defenses to account for finishes above the crowd and rebounds in traffic, and was the ACC tournament MVP. He played 10 NBA seasons with seven teams.
2017: Bradley
Bradley was a reserve on the 2017 national-championship team, then went No. 28 overall in the 2017 NBA draft. His impact came through frontcourt depth and physicality, plus shot-blocking presence. He finished his eighth NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks, his sixth team, but isn’t on the playoff roster.
2019: White
White is a fan favorite despite only playing one season at Carolina, going No. 7 overall in the 2019 NBA draft. He gave UNC quick creation and tempo, scoring gravity on 3-pointers and in transition, and the offense often looked most alive when he pushed the pace. White finished his eighth NBA season with the Charlotte Hornets after Chicago dealt him at the trade deadline.
2019: Little
Little, also a member of the 2018–19 team, became the No. 25 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. His role and his raw tools did not always match on a given night, but his athleticism created a second gear, and opponents had to plan for the moments when his strength and bounce turned a normal possession into a problem. After five NBA seasons with two teams, he has spent the last two seasons in Japan with the Chiba Jets.
2020: Cole Anthony
Anthony spent the 2019–20 season at UNC, missing significant time due to injury, and was selected No. 15 overall in the 2020 NBA draft. His presence shaped scouting reports because a guard who can manufacture a shot changes how every defense can help. His sixth NBA season ended abruptly when Milwaukee traded him at the deadline to Phoenix, which released him. Orlando traded him to the Bucks last offseason.
2021: Day’Ron Sharpe
Sharpe played the 2020–21 COVID season and went No. 29 overall in the 2021 NBA draft. He led the nation in offensive rebound percentage, made the ACC All-Freshman team, and tied for the team lead in blocks, a combination that translated into second chances and paint resistance. He became the fourth one-and-done Tar Heel in three years. He’s played all five NBA seasons with the Brooklyn Nets.
2024: Harrison Ingram
Ingram arrived from Stanford and played his junior season at UNC in the 2023–24 season. He turned pro when the San Antonio Spurs selected him in the second round, No. 48 overall, in the 2024 NBA draft. He has spent most of his first two seasons in the G League. His rebounding, defensive activity and ability to move the ball made him valuable for the Tar Heels.
2025: Drake Powell
Powell played one season at UNC in 2024–25, and the Brooklyn Nets made him the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He was a talented wing for the Tar Heels who was forced to play mostly at the four spot, and played outstanding defense.
2026: Wilson
Like White, Wilson quickly became a fan favorite with his effusive personality and dynamic game. Wilson, who called his season at UNC “the most fun year of my life,” led the team in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks when one injury, then a second one, ended his college career.
2026: Veesaar
Veesaar’s Chapel Hill stop was brief and loud. The 7-footer transferred in from Arizona and finished his one season at UNC playing as well as any player in the country. His impact showed up in both style and production, a modern center who could score inside, facilitate, and punish switches while also spacing the floor, averaging 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds while making 42.7% of his 3-point attempts.
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Photo by Smith Hardy
