The Utah Summer League wrapped up Tuesday night, and for North Carolina fans, there was only one Tar Heel to track. With just four teams in the event and all 30 NBA clubs still set to converge on Las Vegas for the main Summer League slate, the Utah stop offered a small sample - but Henri Veesaar made sure he got plenty of run.
Veesaar, now with the Atlanta Hawks, appeared in all three games and started the third. It was his first Summer League action as a second-round pick, and the opening two outings were quiet ones. Across those games, the former UNC center finished with seven points on 3-for-8 shooting, including 1 of 4 from beyond the arc, while adding 10 rebounds.
His best showing came in the finale, when he moved into the starting lineup and looked much more like a player pressing for rotation minutes. Veesaar scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds in 23 minutes, knocking down 2 of 5 shots from three-point range. He also chipped in four assists, a block and a steal, though he did turn it over four times.
Even with the rough edges, it was a step in the right direction for the rookie big man as he heads to Las Vegas and tries to build on that performance. Atlanta is looking for size, and Veesaar has a chance to make a case for himself in a frontcourt that needs help after being exposed by the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
In Other News...
UNC Just Got Hit With Brutal News On 5-Star Marcus Spears Jr
North Carolinas pursuit of Marcus Spears Jr. came up short in a way that stings more because the Tar Heels were in the mix for a player whose stock has only kept rising. Spears, a consensus top-10 prospect who had been viewed as one of the elite names in his class, had been on UNCs board after the staff extended him an offer, but the recruitment always carried the feel of a heavyweight battle for a player with national appeal and a long list of options.
Spears ultimately leaned toward staying close to home, and that decision leaves UNC looking elsewhere as it continues to manage a roster that is already close to full. For the Tar Heels, it is another reminder that even when they get involved early with a premier talent, the final call can still come down to fit, timing and geography, and this one never seemed to tilt in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Wilson Is Finally Back And Tar Heels Fans Need This
Caleb Wilsons return to the floor is finally here, and it comes with the kind of low-stakes, high-curiosity setting that makes Summer League so useful for a team like Chicago. The No. 4 pick is scheduled to play Friday night against Memphis, giving Bulls fans their first real look at him in a game setting since his North Carolina season was cut short by injuries.
For Tar Heels fans, it is a chance to watch one of their most talented recent players move into the next stage after a frustrating finish in Chapel Hill. The matchup will be on Prime Video at 7 p.m. ET, and while the result matters less than Wilson simply getting back on the court, there is plenty of interest in seeing how he looks in his first competitive action in a while. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Fans Finally Get The Caleb Wilson Moment They've Waited For
Tar Heels fans have had a busy Summer League to track, with familiar names popping up across the NBA as former North Carolina players settle into their pro routines. Henri Veesaar gave Atlanta a lift off the bench with 14 points and six rebounds in a win over San Antonio, while R.J. Davis chipped in 12 points, three assists and two steals for the Spurs, even if the box score also reflected a rough night overall for his team.
The bigger anticipation, though, is centered on Caleb Wilson, who is finally on the verge of getting back on the floor after a long layoff. Seth Trimble also made his Summer League debut for Washington, adding another Tar Heel to the leagues summer showcase, and with more UNC alumni still working through their own opportunities, this stretch has become a useful early look at how the programs recent talent is beginning to spread across the NBA. [Read more 🡒]