North Carolina's Henri Veesaar Questionable for NC State Clash

Tar Heels' second-leading scorer and rebounder dealing with ankle injury

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

North Carolina basketball is dealing with another key injury as center Henri Veesaar is questionable for Tuesday's game against NC State due to an ankle injury. Veesaar, who is averaging 16.4 points and 9 rebounds per game, has been a reliable presence in the paint for the Tar Heels alongside Caleb Wilson. His potential absence would be a significant blow as UNC looks to keep pace with the Wolfpack in the ACC standings.

Why it matters

Veesaar's injury comes at a crucial time for North Carolina, with the ACC tournament less than a month away. The Tar Heels are already dealing with the absence of Wilson, and losing Veesaar would further deplete their frontcourt depth against a tough in-state rival in NC State.

The details

According to CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Veesaar is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against NC State due to an ankle injury. The 7-foot center had been on a strong run of form, scoring in double figures in four straight games before the setback. Veesaar is UNC's second-leading scorer at 16.4 points per game and also grabs 9 rebounds per contest, giving the Tar Heels a reliable presence in the paint alongside Wilson.

  • Veesaar missed the Tar Heels' last game against Miami on Tuesday.

The players

Henri Veesaar

A 7-foot center for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Veesaar is the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.4 points and 9 rebounds per game.

Caleb Wilson

A key player for the North Carolina Tar Heels who is also dealing with an injury.

Hubert Davis

The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team.

NC State

North Carolina's in-state rival, currently one game ahead of the Tar Heels in the ACC standings with a 9-4 conference record.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“North Carolina's Henri Veesaar (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game against NC State, per the ACC Injury Report. DNP in last game.”

— Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports college basketball insider (X (formerly Twitter)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This injury to Veesaar is a significant setback for North Carolina as they look to keep pace with NC State in the ACC standings. The Tar Heels will need to find a way to compensate for his absence on both ends of the floor, especially in the paint, if they hope to come away with a crucial win over their in-state rival.