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So when Drew makes a declaration like he did late Tuesday night about ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ center Henri Veesaar, it means something.

After Veesaar dominated Baylor’s front line in the UA’s resounding 81-70 victory at McKale Center — accumulating 19 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 19 energetic minutes — Drew said simply: “He’s a pro.�

No one saw this coming in November. Tommy Lloyd will tell you he never stopped believing in the Estonian big man, but even Lloyd couldn’t have envisioned Veesaar’s rapid rise over the past six weeks.

Is the redshirt sophomore the best player on a team that’s won seven in a row, including three straight over ranked opponents, and sat atop the Big 12 standings entering Wednesday’s games?

I’d bestow that honor on steady, heady point guard Jaden Bradley. But the fact that Veesaar is even in the conversation is a remarkable achievement.

And the latest reminder that individual development isn’t necessarily linear.

Veesaar was a touted recruit. ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony “arguably the most promising European prospect committing to the college route in the class of 2022.�

Lloyd gave Veesaar plenty of run early in his freshman year. He averaged 11.3 minutes in the first 14 games for a team that eventually would earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

But Veesaar wasn’t quite ready. He fell out of the regular rotation. Then, leading into the following season, Veesaar fell out of a golf cart, or something to that effect. He hurt his elbow, and the decision was made to redshirt him for the 2023-24 campaign.

Out of sight, out of mind.

But Veesaar didn’t spend that time idly. Once healthy, he practiced with the team. Paired with a summer spent mostly in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Veesaar experienced what he referred to as a “double offseasonâ€� devoted to working on his body and his game.

We’re now seeing the fruits of that labor.

“A lot of times these European kids, they never really get an offseason. Their offseason’s with their national team,� Lloyd said. “So we don't get them much. And they don't get that pivotal four, five, six months when you're 18 to 21 years old, the testosterone starts kicking in, your body starts changing and you can really get better.

“Our staff did a great job developing him. ... That's what it takes sometimes.�

It’s fair to wonder whether Veesaar would have become the player he is today — leading the Big 12 in field goal percentage in conference games — if he had remained healthy. Maybe he needed that time off the court to mature. Maybe he needed to be a forgotten man to become a motivated one.

“It was definitely difficult in the moment, mentally and physically being injured,� Veesaar said. “But I really think that it helped me a lot.�

It’s also fair to wonder whether Veesaar would have become the player he is today if teammate Motiejus Krivas had remained healthy.

It’s possible that Krivas and Veesaar would have teamed up to become ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s latest dynamic big-man tandem. It’s undeniable that Krivas’ absence because of a lower-leg injury opened a window of opportunity for Veesaar.

Veesaar’s emergence and Krivas’ injury don’t line up perfectly; Veesaar’s breakout began Dec. 7 vs. Southern Utah, which was the last game Krivas played. But Veesaar’s numbers in November vs. December/January tell the tale.

In seven November contests, Veesaar averaged 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 47.6% in 12.2 minutes per game. In the past nine games, Veesaar has averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 65% in 20.8 minutes.

In five Big 12 games, Veesaar has been even better: He’s averaging 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 70.3% in 22.4 minutes. He also leads the team, in conference play, with 14 “stocks� — steals plus blocks.

It’s safe to say that Veesaar’s stock is rising.

“Henri's what college basketball is all about,� Lloyd said. “Everyone wants things to happen so fast. Here's a kid in his third year. His first year, I thought he was gonna be part of the rotation when he was a high-level recruit, and he struggled. So we got to the point where we didn't play him much because it just wasn't right for that team.

“Last year he had made progress. He has an unfortunate injury in the preseason and continues to work and changes his body and matures. And now, an injury happens on our team, so he gets a little bit more of an opportunity.�

Sometimes another’s misfortune creates that chance. Former UA quarterback Khalil Tate — who sat courtside Tuesday in a No. 13 Deandre Ayton jersey — wouldn’t have become “Mr. October� if Brandon Dawkins hadn’t crashed into the bench at Colorado.

Veesaar demurred when asked if Krivas’ injury altered his mindset.

“A little bit, but not really,� Veesaar said. “I just felt really bad for him because I’ve known him since we were younger. I always played against him. I hate to see any teammate go down with an injury like that.�

Despite both being 7-footers, Krivas and Veesaar definitely could have played together. Although teammates have raved about his overall skill set, Krivas is a pure post player. Veesaar, meanwhile, has shown the ability to connect from range — he has hit 4 of 8 3-pointers in Big 12 play — and beat opponents off the dribble while providing a mobile, menacing defensive presence inside and outside the paint.

Could the 7-foot Euros pair up next season? The way Veesaar is trending/ascending, that’s becoming increasingly unlikely. He’s playing his way into the NBA.

“It’s definitely nice hearing that from any coach. I appreciate that a lot,� Veesaar said when apprised of Drew’s appraisal of him. “I know I had a tough two years here, but I always had the confidence. I knew how I could play and what kind of impact I could make.�