How UNC basketball recruit Drake Powell went from unknown to unleashed as an elite player

PITTSBORO – It wasn't a flashy evening for Drake Powell. 

As a freshman at Northwood High School, Powell and the Chargers traveled to Fayetteville to face Terry Sanford in the third round of the 2021 N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state playoffs. 

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, only 250 people were allowed in the gym. Most of those fans were in Terry Sanford’s rowdy student section. The scene provided a key point on Powell’s path to becoming one of the top high school basketball recruits in the nation. 

He had nine points in a 43-41 win, but even as one of the youngest players on the court, it was his demeanor and confidence that set him apart. As Bulldogs fans tried to get in his head, Powell made play after play and looked their way each time. 

“You don’t get many freshmen taunting the home crowd during a game,” Northwood coach Matt Brown said with a chuckle. 

“That’s just him. You gotta love him.” 

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Now, as a senior, Powell is set to wrap up an impressive high school career before starting a new journey as part of North Carolina basketball’s highly-ranked 2024 recruiting class. 

“It’s been a great journey, filled with a lot of hard work,” Powell said. “A lot of bad days, a lot of great days. I just want to keep a pace with myself, keep believing in myself and just be a student of the game – learn as much as I can.” 

Drake Powell’s path to becoming a UNC basketball recruit 

Drake Powell, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound wing, went from outside of the recruiting rankings to becoming one of the most coveted players in high school basketball. 

“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player for any coach,” Brown said. 

“I knew it was gonna come. I knew he had it in him, even in his freshman year when he was coming to camp … you knew he was something special. But then he just kept getting better and better and better. He’s filling out on top of his intangibles of playing defense and being a great human being. You just knew something good was gonna happen.” 

When Powell committed to the Tar Heels in September 2022, he was the 58th-ranked recruit in the 247Sports Composite. In early November, before signing with UNC, Powell cracked the top 10.

There are three NBA players Powell is “studying right now” as he continues to hone his skills: Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards and DeMar DeRozan.  

“It’s a lot of hours that have to be put in to be in the position that I am with the high-level talent around me,” Powell said. “I try not to pay too much attention to the rankings, because I think I’m the best player. That’s pretty much it.” 

Powell helped the Chargers reach the 3A state championship in two of his three seasons. As a junior, he averaged 18.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

Ahead of his senior season, Powell shined on the Nike EYBL circuit, particularly at Peach Jam in July. In that tournament, he averaged 16.6 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, shooting nearly 56% from the floor.

From the time he arrived on campus as Powell’s coach, Brown has consistently seen a motor that matches an impressive skill set. Brown highlighted Powell’s competitiveness, drive, hunger and “his willingness to do anything and everything to win a basketball game.” 

“He has it all and he’s an excellent basketball player, but even a better person,” Brown. 

People can see the stats on MaxPreps, or find out on social media that Powell won homecoming king this year. Beyond those accolades, Brown wanted to provide a behind-the-scenes look at Powell as a person. 

“Whenever my wife and my little girl come into the gym, he always makes it a point to go over and say, ‘Hi,’” Brown said. “Not everybody does that, but that means a lot to me. That means a lot to my little girl and my wife. It just shows you that he cares for other people.” 

Drake Powell’s ties to UNC basketball and conversations with Ian Jackson, James Brown

Powell will have two other high-profile prospects, five-star guard Ian Jackson and four-star center James Brown, joining him in Chapel Hill next year.

Powell doesn’t remember his first game at the Dean E. Smith Center, but he’s been going to games since he was 5-years-old. 

"My parents would always dress me in Carolina gear from head to toe," Powell said. "There’s really no reason that I wouldn’t wanna go there.” 

As for his conversations with Jackson and Brown, Powell has connected with both of them through different experiences.

“I spent a couple days rooming together with Ian Jackson at the USA camp. He’s a good dude and we were just getting to know each other outside of basketball,” Powell said. “Same with James as we were getting to know each other on our official visits together.” 

As part of one of UNC’s most-hyped recruiting classes in recent history, Powell’s ready to see what the future has in store. 

“With Ian, we said we were going to win as many games as we can and have fun while doing it,” Powell said.  

Brown has felt that excitement grow from UNC's side throughout the years. He can’t wait to see what happens once Powell becomes a Tar Heel.

“(UNC's coaches) have always been so high in knowing that he was gonna be a great player,” Brown said. 

“They’re so excited to have him at Carolina next year. He’s gonna do some great things in the near future. The sky’s the limit for him.” 

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.