North Carolina basketball recruit Drake Powell is among the biggest riser in the 2024 class since committing to the Tar Heels back in September of 2022.
Since then, Powell has earned a fifth star and has climbed into the top 10 in the 247Sports recruiting rankings. He’s also earned praise from several analysts including after another impressive showing in the Peach Jam.
With Powell’s hype continuing to grow, the prospect has decided to stay home for his final year of high school basketball. Inside Carolina’s Sherrell McMillan is reporting that Powell will stay at Northwood High School for his senior season rather than opt to transfer to a prep powerhouse somewhere:
“I’m staying because of the community around me,” Powell said. “They treat me like one of their own really. I like being around the kids after games and I love taking pictures with them. Both of my siblings (Deuce and Cera Powell) graduated from there, and I think it’d be cool if I graduated from there too.”
It’s become the norm for the top prospects in high school basketball to leave their programs and transfer to powerhouses for the final year to develop their game even more. UNC saw that with Day’Ron Sharpe recently and fellow 2024 recruit James Brown opted to transfer out of St. Rita (Chicago) and go to Link Academy.
But for Powell, he’s been able to develop his game at Northwoods and there’s no reason to think he can’t continue that.
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