Despite the NCAA basketball season not even having started yet, the draft buzz swirling about senior veterans making the jump and one-and-done freshmen launching into the NBA at the end of this season is in full swing.
For UNC basketball, having an NBA prospect is something that hasn’t been on the radar for many NBA Scouts over the past couple of years. Last year, only one former Tar Heel was selected in the NBA Draft and that was Harrison Barnes who went No. 18 in the second round to the San Antonio Spurs.
Before Barnes, you have to go back to the 2021 NBA Draft to find the last UNC basketball player selected who was Day’Ron Sharpe at the end of the first round. You have to go back to 2019 to find the last Tar Heel selected in the top 10 when Coby White was the No. 7 overall pick.
Needless to say, it has been a while since North Carolina has produced high-quality NBA talent in the draft.
However, Jonathan Givony of ESPN thinks this year is going to be different in Chapel Hill with the arrival of freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.
One of the oldest teams in college basketball last season, UNC hasn’t had a lottery pick since 2019. The Tar Heels could start two top-15 freshmen in Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, who will be vying to be one-and-done first-rounders.
This season will be something to watch for Tar Heels fans, but they can expect the NBA to take interest in them this season.
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