Tag: Drake Powell

Class of 2026 small forward wants an offer from UNC basketball

There’s another talented Class of 2026 basketball prospect UNC should keep its eyes on. That prospect has strong interest in the Tar Heels.

In just under five months, the UNC basketball team will tip-off its 2024-2025 season.

North Carolina should be one of the most exciting teams to watch in college basketball this year, highlighted by the return of reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis. Starting guard Elliot Cadeau and key reserve Seth Trimble also return, 5-star freshman Ian Jackson and Drake Powell will see valuable minutes (and possibly playing time), while transfers Cade Tyson and Ven-Allen Lubin should start from Day One.

Even with the coming season’s roster sent, that hasn’t stopped UNC head coach Hubert Davis from getting a head-start on the future recruiting trails.

The Tar Heels have already offered 14 players in the Class of 2025, but only one in the Class of 2026 – Cole Cloer, a small forward from nearby Hillsborough, NC.

There’s one more Class of 2026 star that wants an offer from North Carolina – Herly Brutus, a 6’6″, 180-lbs. small forward from Umatilla (Fla.) High School.

“I had UNC, and it’s still UNC now,” the 17-year-old Brutus explained to Pro Insight at the recent Crossroads Elite Invitational in Kansas City, Kan. “And I’m hoping to get that offer soon — sooner or later.”

Depending on how long incoming 5-star small forward Drake Powell stays at UNC, Chapel Hill could be a great git for Brutus. He and Powell could form a deadly, 1-2 starter-reserve punch that is hard to come by in college basketball, or Brutus could enter the starter if Powell goes pro.

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UNC just behind rival in 247Sports ACC Hoops rankings

Can North Carolina exceed its preseason expectations with a young, talented team led by star fifth-year guard RJ Davis?

It’s never too early to start talking about college basketball, particularly if you’re the North Carolina Tar Heels.

I feel like this is said every year, but you truly do have every reason to believe UNC will contend for an NCAA Championship.

North Carolina’s 2024-2025 roster is headlined by the return of RJ Davis, the reigning ACC Player of the Year. The Tar Heels bring in a Top-10 recruiting class highlighted by All-Americans Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, return a pair of talented guards in Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, plus they nabbed Cade Tyson in the transfer portal.

With all North Carolina has going for itself heading into the coming college hoops season, which begins with games in November, there’s no surprise 247Sports ranked UNC second amongst ACC teams in its Way-Too-Early power rankings, just a spot behind archrival Duke.

“UNC’s backcourt should be among the nation’s best,” Isaac Trotter wrote. “RJ Davis is a bonafide superstar and getting a fifth season – out of an All-American like this – is a luxury few can replicate. Davis is a cheat code and he’s going to stay a cheat code. Five-star Ian Jackson brings a jolt of downhill explosiveness. Seth Trimble can move his feet and be one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. If Trimble’s jumper progresses, he’ll play early and often. Elliot Cadeau, for all of his real flaws, is still young and deserves the benefit of the doubt that he will get better. The Cade Tyson addition is just perfect. The Belmont transfer provides the flamethrower from deep that UNC so desperately needed.

“Carolina is going to be really, really good if Davis stays healthy. Duke has the (small) edge now, but Hubert Davis’ moves down the stretch could seal UNC as the cream of the crop in the ACC (again).”

I’m completely fine with the Blue Devils being ranked ahead of us. These are simply just preseason rankings, plus Duke never lives up to its talent on paper.

There’s no doubt the Tar Heels are extremely talented, but they’ll be a significantly younger, inexperienced squad.

Can North Carolina live up to its preseason hype once again?

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Drake Powell reveals when he will arrive on campus for UNC basketball

This UNC basketball 5-star is coming to campus as spring winds down.

The start of the North Carolina Tar Heels’ upcoming college basketball season is about to feel significantly closer.

Yes, UNC won’t start gameplay until November, but players will start to arrive before then. The transfer portal is still alive and active, with North Carolina awaiting the decision of Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins.

The Tar Heels will be welcoming three talented players to the their 2024-2025 roster: 4-star center James Brown, 5-star guard Ian Jackson and 5-star guard/forward Drake Powell, the latter two of whom are McDonalds All-Americans.

At least one of those three is arriving very soon.

Powell, who joins UNC just down the road in Pittsboro, NC, stated recently he’ll arrive on campus Thursday, June 6.

“I’m happy RJ is coming back,” Powell told InsideCarolina’s Evan Rogers. “I’ve definitely cracked some jokes about him being as old as he is. But I just want to learn as much as I can from him.”

Definitely get in the weight room,” Powell said of his summer priorities. “Developing my all-around game to where I can impact everything, every aspect of the game. And getting my cardio up as well. Nothing’s promised going into Carolina, especially as a freshman. But I just want to work hard and do what my coaches ask me even more going forward.”

Powell tore up the high school circuit at Northwood, leading the Chargers to NCHSAA State Championship appearances in two of his four years, by averaging 16.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

While he might have to fight harder for playing time in Chapel Hill, he’ll undoubtedly be a key contributor for Hubert Davis.

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Analyst believes UNC hoops signee Drake Powell may require patience

Will incoming 5-star UNC basketball recruit Drake Powell see the court a ton in his freshman year?

There’s a ton for the UNC men’s basketball team to be excited about ahead of the coming season.

The greatest news came a couple weeks back, when reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis announced his return for a fifth season. Seth Trimble jolted excitement into the Tar Heel fanbase when he withdrew his name from the transfer portal, while North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis went out and nabbed Cade Tyson from Belmont.

UNC also has two of the country’s most talented freshman coming to Chapel Hill in 5-starts Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, both of whom were McDonalds All-Americans. Jackson should start from Day One or be first off the bench, while Powell will likely be a top reserve.

Powell is undoubtedly one of the Tar Heels’ most highly-anticipated recruits in recent history, but his path to playing time in freshman year might be a difficult one.

“Among this group of high ceiling, incoming freshmen that may require a little extra patience are the likes of Khaman Maluach, Jayden Quaintance and even Drake Powell,” 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein said.

The main reason Powell likely doesn’t start is because of RJ, Jackson and Tyson.

Powell is officially listed as a 6’6″ small forward, a spot which Tyson will occupy. He can also play the two spot, but he’ll be hard-pressed for time there behind RJ and Jackson.

If I had to predict Powell’s playing time, he’ll be the backup 3. Powell is more familiar with UNC’s system, though, as he was a recruit long before Tyson.

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Jonas Aidoo to UNC would mean more than just basketball

Come home, Jonas Aidoo!

After swinging and missing on transfer portal centers Oumar Ballo and Danny Wolf, the North Carolina Tar Heels are running out of experienced options to bring into Chapel Hill.

One possibility is Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi, who plans to visit UNC on Thursday, May 2. If Omoruyi picks North Carolina, I imagine he’d start immediately, as he’s a 6’11” tower who’s averaged double-digit point totals over each of the last three seasons.

Another possibility – the player I personally like the most – is Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo. In his first season as a full-time starter, Aidoo averaged 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

But that’s not why Aidoo should come to North Carolina.

Dating back to his high school basketball days, Aidoo is actually a native of the Tar Heel State. He played his junior and senior seasons of high school basketball at Voyager Academy in Durham, before transferring to the Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte.

You can’t beat the prospects of playing college basketball 30 minutes from where you grew up. Aidoo wouldn’t just be playing for any college basketball program – he’d be playing for the ACC’s best.

UNC has one of the most attractive rosters in college basketball next year, highlighted by a projected return from reigning ACC Player of Year RJ Davis. Guards Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble also come back, plus 5-star All-Americans Drake Powell and Ian Jackson enter the mix.

Jonas Aidoo – if you’re reading this, it’s your sign to come to Chapel Hill!

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UNC basketball earns Top-3 ranking in John Fanta’s second Way-Too-Early Top 25

Can the North Carolina Tar Heels live up to their preseason rankings this time?

Will Harrison Ingram withdraw his name from the NBA Draft? Will reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis return to Chapel Hill for a fifth year?

Those are the top two questions surrounding the UNC men’s basketball program right now, which is expected to be another dangerous team in the 2024-2025 campaign.

Even if Ingram and Davis don’t return, North Carolina will be just fine. They bring in 5-star McDonalds All-Americans in Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, a 4-star center in James Brown, plus return key bench contributors in Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington.

The mission remains the same: a seventh National Championship.

In FOX Sports’ John Fanta’s second installation of his Way-Too-Early Top 25, the Tar Heels come in at third.

With Hunter Dickinson announcing his return for a fifth year, there’s no surprise Kansas is ranked number one. UConn will likely see Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, Donovan Clingen and Stephon Castle leave, so that second overall ranking remains in questions.

While UNC is very deserving of its ranking, as few other teams return players of Davis and Dickinson’s caliber, these are simply just preseason rankings. We all know what happened in the 2022-2023 campaign (don’t remind us).

Oh – there’s also a strong possibility the Tar Heels could add a couple players in the transfer portal. Former Tennessee big man Jonas Aidoo and former Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi are the two UNC portal targets to watch right now.

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Could Seth Trimble’s return spell a positive domino effect for UNC?

Guess who’s back…back again?

There was a collective sigh of disappointment two weeks ago in Chapel Hill, when UNC basketball guard Seth Trimble decided to enter the transfer portal.

Trimble, one of North Carolina’s best defensive players, could get more playing time elsewhere. Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis made a questionable decision to not play him much in the second half of UNC’s Sweet 16 loss to Alabama, leading to speculation Trimble’s time in Chapel Hill was coming to an end.

Two weeks after Trimble announced his decision to transfer, Tar Heel Nation breathed a collective sigh of relief, as Trimble withdrew himself from the transfer portal and announced his decision in returning to Chapel Hill.

Trimble’s news of returning might not be the only return either as CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander tweeted:

Having RJ Davis, the reigning ACC Player of the Year and a 2023-2024 Wooden Award Finalist, return to UNC would be arguably the biggest roster plus entering the coming season. He, Trimble and Elliot Cadeau would form an experienced guard trio that not many other teams can say they have.

Not to mention, North Carolina also welcomes 5-stars Ian Jackson and Drake Powell (guard/forward) to the roster next year. Those are talented guards 1-5, who could all start if Hubert Davis wanted to roll with a small lineup at times.

I have a strong feeling that since Trimble is returning, Davis will be highly encouraged to play him more.

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Cooper Flagg tells UNC commits Tar Heels wont sweep Duke next season

Duke basketball recruit Cooper Flagg is getting the trash talking started early saying the Tar Heels won’t sweep the Blue Devils next season.

With both teams out of the NCAA Tournament and watching the Final Four from home, the focus now shifts to the offseason for both North Carolina and Duke. And it will be an interesting one to say the least.

While both teams will have departures and arrivals, the recruiting classes coming in are both very strong. Duke has the top class in the country coming in headlined by the top player, Cooper Flagg. But North Carolina’s class is No. 8 with five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.

Before the two teams meet next season, the trash talk was already flowing at the McDonald’s All-American Game. During the festivities of the game in Houston, Complex Sports caught up with Duke recruits Flagg and Isaiah Evans as well as UNC commits Jackson and Powell to talk the UNC-Duke rivalry. And Flagg made sure to let the Tar Heels know his prediction that they won’t be sweeping Duke again next season.

After Jackson told the Duke recruits it would be another ‘2-0 sweep’, Flagg responded.

“It can’t happen. Like we were in the crowd. Like we’ve seen it happen. It’s not happening again,” Flagg said. “We’ve witnessed it.”

Jackson quickly took a shot back stating that they watched Cormac Ryan go off on Duke, a game in which he scored a career-high as the Tar Heels completed the regular season sweep.

Flagg did see it upfront and center with Evans. Both were in attendance for the regular season finale in Durham and both got a close look at the Tar Heels sweeping Duke and making Cameron Indoor Stadium real quiet in that second half.

Let’s hope Jackson and Powell can give the Duke duo the same experience next season.

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Ian Jackson and Drake Powell impress at 2024 McDAAG

I can’t wait to watch Ian Jackson and Drake Powell tear up the court in Chapel Hill next year.

It’s going to be a fun season in Chapel Hill next year.

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis has proven his strengths again on the recruiting trail, nabbing a pair of 5-stars in Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, the hometown kid who plays high school basketball 20 minutes from campus. Joining the two 5-stars is James Brown, the 4-star center from Chicago, Ill. who plays at Link Academy.

Jackson and Powell received the opportunities of a lifetime this week, as they suited up for the East squad in Tuesday’s McDonalds All-American game. Both UNC signees played with several future opponents, including Duke signees Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans.

While Powell did not score in the McDAAG, he provided valuable defense, as evidenced by his four rebounds and two steals. Don’t be fooled – Powell can score, averaging 16.6 points per game across his high school career.

“Along with it being competitive, it is very high energy and everyone is intense,” Powell told 247 Sports’ Eric Bossi on playing with his McDAAG teammates. “We’ve been focusing on sharing the basketball a bit more and playing off of one another.”

Jackson was one of the McDAAG’s offensive stars, scoring 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting. He likely would’ve been the MVP, but East teammate/ Maryland signee Derik Queen (23) and Rutgers signee Dylan Harper (22) barely outscored him.

“It’s been great just getting the opportunity to be here and compete against the players from around the country, who are considered the top players,” Jackson told Bossi on playing with his McDAAG teammates. “It’s competitive and I’ve had fun.”

Expect to see more of the same in Chapel Hill next year, only Powell will be scoring significantly more.

Can we fast-forward to November?

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‘He’s 27’: Duke signee Isaiah Evans takes a swipe at UNC’s Cormac Ryan

During media sessions for the McDonald’s All-American Game, Duke signee Isaiah Evans reminded some future Tar Heels how old Cormac Ryan really is.

Isaiah Evans won’t need any practice adopting the Duke-North Carolina rivalry.

The five-star Duke signee, who was named North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball for the second straight year this season, turned heads by jawing some fans in Tar Heels merch at one of his high school games.

Earlier this week, during media sessions for the McDonald’s All-American Game, it was Cormac Ryan.

Ryan, a fifth-year senior and a Tar Heels starter this season, scored 31 points and made six 3-pointers in the regular-season finale at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season. He’s also 25 years old, having begun his playing career with Stanford in the 2018-19 season, a detail Evans does not forget.

In a short social media clip shared earlier this week, UNC commit Drake Powell tried to remind Evans of Ryan’s performance. The future Blue Devil had none of it.

“Cormac Ryan, is he not a pro in your eyes?” Powell asked.

“He’s 27, bro, that’s what he is,” Evans responded quickly.

Evans and Flagg will get the chance to square off with Powell, UNC commit Ian Jackson, and the Tar Heels next season.