Henri Veesaar is officially in elite company.
The North Carolina big man has been named to the 2025-26 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Midseason Watch List - a nod reserved for the top 10 centers in men’s college basketball right now. It’s a significant recognition, not just because of the name attached to the award, but because it signals Veesaar’s emergence as one of the most impactful players in the paint this season.
The award, named after the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, honors the best center in the nation each year, and being on this list means you're doing something right - and doing it at a high level. Veesaar is joined by a stacked group of fellow big men who’ve been making waves across the country, including Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, Kansas’ dynamic duo of Flory Bidunga and Aday Mara, and Purdue’s Oscar Cluff, among others.
Here’s the full Midseason Watch List:
- Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
- Alex Condon, Florida
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Aday Mara, Kansas
- Rienk Mast, Nebraska
- Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
- Oscar Cluff, Purdue
- Zuby Ejiofor, St.
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- Tarris Reed, UConn
- Hannes Steinbach, Washington
Each of these players has carved out a major role for their team - whether it’s dominating the glass, protecting the rim, or anchoring the offense from the post. For Veesaar, his inclusion is a testament to how much he’s grown into his role in Chapel Hill. He’s not just a presence - he’s a difference-maker.
Now, the race heats up. Fan voting opens Friday, February 6 at www.hoophallawards.com, giving supporters a chance to help push their favorite center toward the finish line.
And here’s the kicker: the top vote-getter actually earns an extra vote from the selection committee. So yes, fan support can be the difference between making the final cut or not.
The list will be trimmed down to five finalists in mid-March, just as the college hoops season reaches its most intense stretch. From there, the winner will be announced in the lead-up to the Final Four, with presentation details still to come.
It’s worth noting that the list isn’t set in stone - it’ll remain fluid as performances evolve down the stretch. That means players can still play their way onto (or off) the list depending on how they close out the season.
For now, though, Veesaar and the rest of this group have earned their spot in the national spotlight. And as March approaches, all eyes will be on the paint - where this year’s best bigs are battling not just for wins, but for the right to be called the nation’s top center.