Which incoming Tar Heel is a mocked lottery pick in 2025 NBA Draft?

It’s the middle of August, which means the UNC men’s basketball team is just over three months away from kicking off its 2024-2025 season.

The Tar Heels enjoyed a historic season last year, capturing their first regular season ACC Title since 2019 and making the Sweet 16. North Carolina was aided by the likes of Armando Bacot, RJ Davis, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan, amongst others.

Bacot, Ingram and Ryan are all gone, so who will replace their production this winter?

Look no further than incoming 5-star freshman and McDonalds All-American Drake Powell, the hometown kid who played his high school basketball just minutes from the Dean Dome.

Powell is projected to stand out during his first collegiate year – so much, that Bleacher Report has Powell going fifth overall in its latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft.

“Drake Powell received some quality experience this summer at Jayson Tatum’s Elite Camp and the Nike Skills Academy,” Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote. “He’s going to build a real case for starter minutes, with more versatility at both ends, than North Carolina wings Ian Jackson and Cade Tyson. Head coach Hubert Davis will be able to slide Powell into multiple positions and roles. He’s extremely well-rounded and is capable of making plays on and off the ball with his pull-up, passing, improved catch-and-shoot game and athleticism. Powell is going to make his mark this coming season by impacting games in different ways.”

Powell’s star-studded prep career included two state championship appearances at Northwood (NC) High School, where he averaged 16.6 points per game across four varsity seasons. If you go back and watch some of Powell’s highlight tapes, you’ll see his game is far advanced beyond his age.

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