By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina had three former players and one player it hopes will play for the Tar Heels next season among the 74 invited on Friday to the NBA Draft Combine.
Forward Caleb Wilson and center Henri Veesaar earned spots in the league’s premier pre-draft evaluation event that will be held May 10 through 17 in Chicago, making Carolina one of three ACC programs with multiple invitees.
Also invited, though, was former N.C. State guard Matt Able, who has committed out of the transfer portal to UNC. Able’s inclusion underscores the regard NBA teams already have for his game, regardless of his move to Chapel Hill. To remain eligible to play for UNC next season, Able has until 11:59 p.m. on May 27 to withdraw his name from the NBA draft process.
In addition, former UNC, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel was invited.
The combine invites players to participate in a weeklong slate of team interviews, medical evaluations, strength and agility testing, shooting drills and controlled scrimmages in front of NBA executives and scouts from across the league.
Although Seth Trimble didn’t get an invitation, he still could get invited to the G League Draft Combine in Chicago on May 8 through 19.
For Wilson and Veesaar, the invitations represent another step in an evaluation process that has already firmly established both as likely first-round picks. Wilson is projected between No. 2 and No. 5, while Veesaar is expected to go late in the first round, between the 25th and 30th picks. Able is considered top 60, and Nickel is not projected to be drafted.
Wilson, a steady presence in Carolina’s frontcourt, emerged as one of the team’s most consistent two-way performers. His ability to dominate on offense while defending multiple positions became a selling point for NBA evaluators seeking guard versatility.
Veesaar brings a contrasting but complementary profile. At 6–11, he offers size, mobility and the ability to stretch the floor on pick-and-pop actions, along with his work as a secondary shot-blocker.
For Wilson, Veesaar, Able and Nickel, Chicago offers the opportunity to confirm what scouts believe they already know, while also addressing specific questions through interviews and drills.
Players who perform well at the combine often solidify or improve their standing heading into the NBA draft on June 23 and 24.
Other ACC players invited are Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Maliq Brown and Isaiah Evans; Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell; former Wake Forest guard Juke Harris; Virginia Tech’s Tobi Lawal; Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie; and Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso.
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Roster assuming all players with eligibility other than Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar and the seven players who entered the transfer portal return, which would put UNC three under the 15-player limit. The class for next season is listed.
| No./ Stars | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 star | Freshman | Maximo Adams | SF | 6–7 | 205 |
| 3 star | Freshman | Malloy Smith | CG | 6–5 | 190 |
| Freshman | Sayon Keita | C | 7–0 | 215 | |
| RS freshman | Cade Bennerman — W | C | 7–0 | 205 | |
| Sophomore | Neoklis Avdalas — X | G | 6–9 | 215 | |
| Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 180 | |
| Sophomore | Matt Able — Y | G | 6–6 | 205 | |
| Senior | Terrence Brown — Z | G | 6–3 | 174 | |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson | 4 | 6–10 | 215 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 25 | Junior | John Holbrook | 4 | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | 2 | 6–1 | 195 |
W — Northwestern transfer. X — Virginia Tech transfer; Y — N.C. State transfer; Z — Utah transfer
In transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Bogavac | Senior | W | 6–6 | 215 | Oklahoma State |
| James Brown | Senior | C | 6–10 | 240 | Howard |
| Derek Dixon | Sophomore | G | 6–5 | 200 | Arizona |
| Kyan Evans | Senior | G | 6–2 | 175 | Minnesota |
| Zayden High | Junior | C | 6–10 | 230 | South Florida |
| Jonathan Powell | Junior | G | 6–6 | 190 | Pittsburgh |
| Ivan Matlekovic | Junior | C | 7–0 | 255 |
Key offseason dates
May 8–10 — G League Combine in Chicago
May 10 — NBA Draft Lottery
May 10–17 — NBA Draft Combine in Chicago
May 27 (11:59 p.m.) — NCAA early-entry withdrawal deadline
June 23–24 — NBA draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Nonconference schedule so far
(Other than the ACC/SEC Challenge, games without links revealed from reporting by Alex Rosinski)
(10 of 14 games)
Nov. 2 — vs. Western Carolina
Nov. 6 — vs. Wofford
Nov. 10 — vs. Wyoming
Nov. 13 — vs. Georgia
Nov. 20 — vs. Marshall
Dec. 1 or 2 — vs. SEC team in ACC/SEC Challenge
Dec. 12 — at Georgetown
Dec. 19 — vs. Kentucky in CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden
Dec. 21 — vs. The Citadel
November or December — vs. Butler
Photo via gopack.com
