Veesaar's NBA Draft Declaration Leaves UNC Center Vacancy

0:00On April 24, North Carolina star Big Man, 7-foot center-on-re Vsar, just declared for the 2026 NBA draft. The second team, all ACC standout, averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last season while hitting over 42% from beyond the arc. He's currently ranked 26th among prospects by CVS Sports, eyeing a late first round spot. Earlier this week, Vsar turned down a huge NIL deal from UNC that could have made him the preseason ACC player of the year. With other top bigs like Florida's Thomas Hall, Duke's Patrick and Gungba, and Yukon's Braille and Mullins heading back to school, his stock could climb. Even higher. He can still pull out in return, but where it is he's locked in on the pros. This leaves a massive gap for New Tar Hills coach Michael Malone, heading into 2026-27. Fans and analysts are reeling as Vsar was set to anchor the front court after UNC snag

1:01solid transfers like Virginia Tech's Neoclis Abdelis, Utah's Terrence Brown, and NC State's Matt Able. Malone scrambling now for a center replacement with slim options left in the portal. Arizona State's Masambadiop tops the list, but Kanzaga and St. John's are circling. Since in Addie's Mustafa team, just visited Michigan, and others like Georgetown's Julius Halifel Nua, or Washington's front kept name, could fit though. Texas Tech's Luke Bamboy A is more of a stretch. Times ticking fast, with nearly 90 of the top 100 portal players already committed. UNC's got to move quick, or reshape their whole game plan around these transfers.