North Carolina's Henri Veesaar Ruled Out Against NC State

Tar Heels will be without their starting center for Tuesday's matchup in Raleigh.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 5:39pm

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North Carolina's starting center Henri Veesaar has been officially ruled out for Tuesday night's game against NC State due to a lower-extremity injury. Veesaar missed Saturday's win over Pitt due to the injury and flu-like symptoms, but head coach Hubert Davis said Veesaar's illness has subsided while the lower-body issue remains a concern.

Why it matters

Veesaar's absence is a significant blow for the Tar Heels, as he ranks second on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Without Veesaar and fellow star forward Caleb Wilson, who is also sidelined, North Carolina will need to rely on younger players like Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High to step up against their in-state rival.

The details

Veesaar originally suffered the lower-extremity injury in UNC's loss at Miami a week ago. He participated in pregame warmups on Saturday but was ultimately held out due to the lingering issue. Head coach Hubert Davis said Veesaar made significant progress in his recovery on Monday, but the team has decided to hold him out against NC State as a precaution.

  • Veesaar suffered the lower-body injury in UNC's loss at Miami on February 10.
  • Veesaar missed Saturday's win over Pitt due to the injury and flu-like symptoms.
  • Veesaar will be officially listed as out for Tuesday's game against NC State.

The players

Henri Veesaar

North Carolina's starting center who ranks second on the team in scoring and rebounding.

Hubert Davis

Head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“He's getting a lot better, (Monday) was a huge jump in his improvement. He had, you know, an injury in his lower extremities, and then also had the flu, and it was a major jump in both of those today. It's still day-to-day, we'll have to evaluate (Tuesday) if he's available for NC State, but I was really encouraged by the improvement in both areas today.”

— Hubert Davis, Head Coach

What’s next

The Tar Heels will evaluate Veesaar's status again on Tuesday to determine if he can return for their next game.

The takeaway

North Carolina's frontcourt depth will be tested without both Veesaar and Wilson available against NC State. The Tar Heels will need strong performances from their younger players to overcome the absences of their two star big men.