North Carolina junior Henri Veesaar is one of five national finalists for the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.
Other finalists include Florida’s Alex Condon, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, Kansas’ Flory Bidunga and Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s.
Veesaar, a transfer from Arizona, leads Carolina in field goal shooting (61.4%), three-point accuracy (41.5%) and blocks (35) and is second in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (8.4). He was the eighth-leading vote-getter for All-ACC and made the second team earlier this week.
He could become the first player in ACC history with 30 blocks and 30 three-pointers to also shoot 60% from the floor in a season. Veesaar is averaging 1.2 three-pointers per game. He is on pace to also become the first ACC player to average 1.0 threes and shoot 60% from the floor in the same season.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will announce the winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award in late March prior to the 2026 Final Four.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award
NAME
SCHOOL
Alex Condon
Florida
Graham Ike
Gonzaga
Flory Bidunga
Kansas
Henri Veesaar
North Carolina
Zuby Ejiofor
St. John’s
