North Carolina recently welcomed 7-foot Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar to Chapel Hill. This has brought back some talk about head coach Hubert Davis’s choice of words. The concern is real because he once described former Tar Heel big man Jalen Washington as “adorable.” So, an analyst has recently warned Davis not to use the same tag on the new transfer.
Hubert Davis Warned About Using ‘Adorable’ Tag for Henri Veesaar
That moment came during a media session in October 2024, when Davis drew laughs at the Smith Center by calling Washington “adorable,” referring to his personality rather than his playing style.
While the comment was friendly, it sparked a lot of debate. After all, frontcourt players are expected to be strong and aggressive. But that kind of “adorable” tag might make them appear soft.
In a recent discussion, Jacob Turner and Andrew Jones recalled that moment. Turner asked, “What did Hubert call Jalen Washington last year? Is it cute or something like that?” Jones replied, “Adorable.” Turner responded, “Yeah, that’s… especially in hindsight, it’s not what you want to hear about one of your starting bigs.”
The concern isn’t about how much Davis cares for his players, everyone knows he does, but how his words come across to fans and the public. Veesaar is expected to be a big part of UNC’s frontcourt, and people want to see him described as strong and tough.
Jones added, “If Roy would have said adorable, it would have been for the intent of humor… Hubert doesn’t travel in that lane nearly as often. And adorable was just because Hubert likes him so much.”
He continued, “There are a few things you might want to take back that he said since he got the job… I think adorable is another one too… If he calls Henry Veesaar adorable, that’s it, man.”
KEEP READING: Analysts Break Down North Carolina Commit Caleb Wilson’s Viral Summer Workout Videos
The Estonian native holds a strong resume. Last season at Arizona, he averaged 9.4 points, five rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Jalen Washington, in turn, averaged 5.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists last season at UNC. He also had a solid field goal percentage at 59.4%. But Veesaar brings more size, better range, and a stronger defensive game.
With his unique skill set, Veesaar is expected to add real versatility to UNC’s frontcourt. Analysts and coaches want him to be handled with care, for sure. But the hope is that the praise this time will match the physical presence the 21-year-old brings to the court.