European prospects UNC is targeting to bolster frontcourt

North Carolina will look for players overseas with some of the top prospects in the transfer portal already having decided where they want to play college basketball.

This comes after the departure of center Henri Veesaar. Veesaar, who averaged 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, announced he was forgoing his final year of eligibility and entering his name in the NBA draft.

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His exit leaves a huge hole in UNC’s roster, which does not have a bona fide center. James Brown (Howard) and Zayden High (South Florida) have both left for new schools, and Ivan Matlekovic is also unlikely to return.

With that in mind, North Carolina will use its connections to look for talent in Europe, a market it knows well. The Tar Heels brought over former key wing Luka Bogavac from Montenegro, and head coach Michael Malone and general manager Jim Tanner have long-standing ties in Europe.

Here are some names the Tar Heels have been in contact with.

Sayon Keita (7-0, 215)

Keita plays for FC Barcelona in the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.   He has played 13 games this season.  In the six EuroLeague games, Keita averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds while making 58.3% of his shots from the field.  All of his attempts were two-pointers.  Keita averaged 0.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in seven Liga ACB games.

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At 18 years old, Keita is an elite defender with a rare combination of size, length and athleticism that allows him to impact both ends of the floor. He’s highly effective in pick-and-roll situations, often finishing plays with alley-oops set up by well-timed screens. His highlight tape features plenty of explosive finishes and rim protection.

He first gained attention at both the NBPA Top 100 Camp and NBA Academy Games, averaging 13.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and four blocks per game.

While Keita’s potential is undeniable, his game remains raw. He’s still learning how to fully utilize his 7-foot, 215-pound frame. He’s shown flashes of scoring ability with his back…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/european-prospects-unc-targeting-bolster-152107567.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-27 15:21:00

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