Tag: Drake Powell

‘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.

LOOK: UNC basketball recruits play in 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game

UNC basketball recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell both competed in the McDonald’s All-American Games in Houston.

With the basketball season wrapping up on the high school and college levels, all-star games for incoming recruits are starting to grab the headlines.

And the biggest one is the McDonald’s All-American Game. The 2024 version for the boys and girls games took place on Tuesday night in Houston, Texas showcasing the top talents in the 2024 classes. For the boy’s game, the North Carolina Tar Heels were represented by five-stars Ian Jackson and Drake Powell in the game.

After falling behind early, the East team completed a comeback and took down the West team 88-86, putting UNC recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell on the winning side. Jackson finished the game with 21 points and 2 assists, the second-leading scorer on his team.

Meanwhile, for Powell, he didn’t score a bucket but did have four rebounds and two steals. Let’s take a look at the photos from the two during the game:

UNC basketball commit Drake Powell stands out at McDonald’s All-American practice

Drake Powell was named one of the top standouts in the first practice at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston.

As the college basketball season winds down with the Final Four this weekend, the future of the sport is with the 2024 recruiting class. And the top recruits in that class are getting set to play in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game.

One player that is participating is North Carolina commit Drake Powell, a five-star recruit out of Pittsboro, North Carolina. The five-star recruit has elevated his game since committing to North Carolina in Fall of 2022. And now he’s continuing that into the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Powell was named one of the standouts for the first day of practice via On3’s Jamie Shaw:

Drake Powell is the ultimate connector While he might not be as dynamic as some of the others in attendance, he rarely makes mistakes on the floor. In this setting, Powell showed off his knockdown mid-range jump shot, getting to the elbows and making shots. He also knocked down multiple catch-and-shoot threes. Powell might be the best perimeter defender in this class and the ball never sticks in his hands. There is a high floor with the production looking ahead with Powell.

Powell is one of two UNC recruits who are playing in the game, along with Ian Jackson. The duo are both five-star recruits who are the headliners of the Tar Heels’ three-man class along with James Brown.

If Powell continues to elevate his play, he’s going to be even better when he arrives on UNC’s campus.

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Two UNC basketball recruits named to Naismith HS All-America Teams

UNC basketball commits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell earned Naismith HS All-America Team honors.

As North Carolina continues their march towards a national championship run this season, the future is bright in Chapel Hill with the incoming 2024 recruiting class.

The three-man class built by Hubert Davis and the staff is headlined by five-star recruits Drake Powell and Ian Jackson. The two have climbed to five-star status and are both ranked in the top 10.

On Thursday, both recruits were named to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School All-American Teams. Both recruits have played really well in their final seasons of high school basketball as they arrive on UNC’s campus this June.

The duo are the first UNC recruits to make the team since Cole Anthony earned first-team recognition in 2019.

Powell and Jackson, along with 2024 commit James Brown, will look to continue the winning ways in Chapel Hill next season. It’s a 2024 class that is ranked right around the top 10 and was once the top class along with Elliot Cadeau before the guard reclassified.

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UNC signees Ian Jackson and Drake Powell ranked in 247Sports’ Top 10 Class of 2024 recruits

Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are two of the UNC men’s basketball program’s most highly-anticipated arrivals in recent memory.

As the common social media hashtag goes after UNC victories, it’s a great day to be a Tar Heel right now.

Both the Carolina men and women are holding down first place in the ACC right now, something I haven’t seen simultaneously in ages, while both are also on long winning streaks. UNC has veteran talent on both teams, something that’s crucial to making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Both squads also have highly-ranked recruits coming in to replace the departing talent next year.

For the men, Ian Jackson and Drake Powell will be the next two 5-stars to suit up in Carolina blue.

Jackson, a shooting guard from Our Savior Lutheran School (NY) and Powell, a small forward from Northwood High School (NC), are both listed as Top-10 recruits in 247Sports’ list of 2024 5-star players.

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Jackson, who’s in the midst of his season, will likely take over at starting shooting guard for RJ Davis next year.

Drake Powell is dominating the NCHSAA circuit, as he currently has his Chargers at a 13-3 record and first place in the 1A/2A Mid-Carolina Conference. Powell’s leading Northwood in every statistical category – his ultimate goal is to help his team capture its first-ever state championship, particularly after coming so close last year in its fifth try.

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Two North Carolina commits named to Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List

Two UNC basketball signees in the 2024 recruiting class were named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List.

As the North Carolina Tar Heels enjoy some success in the 2023-24 season so far, the future is also bright for Hubert Davis’ team.  North Carolina is set to welcome in a three-man recruiting class for the 2024 cycle with two players inside the Top 10 in the 247Sports recruiting rankings.

And now both are being honored by the Naismith Trophy award.

Last week, the duo were both named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List. The Naismith Boys’ High School Player of the Year Trophy is given out annually to the top prep player in the country.

The award listed 25 players who made the mid-season watch list including Drake Powell and Ian Jackson:

The duo will look to continue their success at the college level together next season in Chapel Hill. And by the looks of it, both are ready to step into the college game and make an immediate impact.

It should be another exciting year next season with Jackson and Powell leading the way in this class.

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Tyler Zeller sharing his love for basketball as high school coach

Tyler Zeller helped UNC capture the 2009 NCAA Championship, then played in the NBA for 10 years. He’s now helping coach a future Tar Heel.

It’s pretty hard to miss former UNC basketball player Tyler Zeller when he walks into a room.

Zeller, who helped the Tar Heels capture the 2009 NCAA Championship, stands at seven feet tall. He led the ACC in field goal percentage (.547) during his junior campaign in 2010-2011, then improved that percentage and his scoring output in senior year.

Zeller enjoyed a 10-year professional career – all in the NBA. He averaged 6.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, with his best season coming during 2014-2015 with the Boston Celtics (career-best 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds per game).

Now three seasons removed from pro ball, Zeller is sharing his passion of the game by coaching high school basketball.

His team? Northwood (N.C.) High School, the same school that boasts 2024, 5-start commit Drake Powell.

Zeller’s in his third year down in Pittsboro, helping as an assistant coach on Matthew Brown’s staff. The Chargers advanced to the NCHSAA 3A Regional Final in their first year with Zeller on staff, then lost to Central Cabarrus in the 3A State Championship Game last year.

According to Chapelboro, Zeller is now drawing up plays in the huddle. He’s hoping to help coach Northwood to its first state title in six tries.

Zeller also noted he could still play pro ball, but the constant traveling was getting to him.

“I’m trying to be home more and be with my family,” Zeller told Chapelboro. “I’ve got three little ones. I usually don’t go to the away games, so I don’t have to travel and get home really late. I can get them to bed, which I wasn’t able to do my last couple years playing.”

Zeller’s work with Powell, UNC’s highest-ranked commit in the 2024 cycle, has proved instrumental.

Since Zeller arrived in Pittsboro, Powell’s seen his scoring averages jump each year – 16.1 points per game in 2021-2022, 18.6 ppg last year and – through just seven games this season, 20 ppg.

“The Carolina coaches did a great job of recruiting him and convincing him to go to Carolina,” Zeller told Chapelboro. “I felt like my job was to coach him and prepare him for that, not influencing his decision to go where I wanted him to go. It was his decision, and I wanted to respect that. I love to coach. I love being around basketball. Having a role where I can be around the game, hopefully help kids grow and become better players, is definitely something I would be interested in.”

Powell will make the short trip up 15-501 to Chapel Hill next year. Will Zeller follow him?

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Drake Powell showcases stellar court vision at USA Basketball camp

Northwood (N.C.) High School senior Drake Powell, UNC’s top basketball recruit in the 2024 class, showed out at a recent USA hoops camp.

Northwood High School (N.C.) senior Drake Powell is one of the country’s top prep basketball players.

His stats tell you one thing, but those are just numbers.

Powell is one of the country’s top high school players because of his ability to make virtually anything happen. He can grab a rebound and sprint down the court for a dunk in seconds, bounce through ball screens and lock down ball-handlers with his long arms and, most importantly, take over a game when his team needs it.

Whereas the UNC basketball team will graduated talented program staples in Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis next year, it gains in Powell. He is currently the fourth-ranked recruit in 247Sports’ Class of 2024 rankings.

Over the weekend, Powell spent his weekend in Colorado Springs, participating in the USA Basketball Junior Minicamp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

He shined amongst some of the country’s top players at the Minicamp – just check out this clip below.

I’m sure Powell is elated to be participating with the National Team, but his main focus will soon turn to helping Northwood finally capture the NCHSAA 2A state championship. The Chargers advanced to the 3A championship earlier this year and in the COVID-shortened, 2020-2021 campaign, but lost both times.

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UNC Basketball lands two recruits in Rivals updated Top 10

Two UNC basketball commits are ranked in the Top 10 for the 2024 class by Rivals.

As Hubert Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels prepare for the upcoming 2023-24 college basketball season, the future is bright in terms of recruiting.

The Tar Heels currently have a three-man 2024 recruiting class headlined by five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. They also have a four-star big man James Brown, giving Davis a good foundation for his class.

Both Jackson and Powell are a big reason why the Tar Heels have a top 3 class, and in a recent update by Rivals, both landed in the top 10 for the 2024 rankings.

Powell shot up the rankings after committing to UNC back in September of 2022 and checks in at No. 8. Here is what Rob Cassidy had to say about the recruit:

Cassidy’s Take: A future North Carolina Tar Heel,  Drake Powell had an impressive grassroots season but really turned it on at Peach Jam, where he looked like the complete player into which many had hoped he’d blossom. In five games at the event, Powell shot 55% from the floor and averaged 16.6 PPG, 10 RPG and 3.6 APG.

He is hitting his stride as he begins his senior year and has looked every bit like a top-10 player for the better part of the last three months.

Jackson wasn’t too far behind him, coming in at No. 9:

Cassidy’s Take: The 6-foot-5  Ian Jackson is one of the most athletic prospects in the class. He’s a much better defender than he sometimes gets credit for being, possibly because his three-level scoring ability hogs the headlines. He’s best in transition but has some serious shot-creation ability in the half court as well.

The Tar Heels are likely done in the 2024 class unless there is a reclassification by a future prospect. They will likely add in the transfer portal as well but the foundation is good for Davis and his staff.

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UNC basketball commit earning praise in one key area of game

UNC Basketball commit Drake Powell was named among the best recruits at this skillset by an analyst.

North Carolina commit Drake Powell has achieved five-star status this year as he has elevated his game. The in-state prospect committed to North Carolina back in September of 2022 and since then has become a top 10 player in the 247Sports rankings.

And Powell isn’t done getting better.

The forward continues to impress, whether it be during his high school season or in AAU competition. He’s earned praise from several analysts including being called one of the top prospects regardless of class.

Now, Powell is earning more praise as the summer continues to roll on as one recruiting analyst listed him among the best perimeter defenders in the 2024 class.

On3’s Jamie Shaw revealed his list this week which includes Powell. But it’s what Shaw had to say that stands out:

The Skinny: Had it not been for Cooper Flagg reclassifying into the 2024 class, Drake Powell would have claimed the top spot in this category. Quite simply, Powell is that dude on the defensive end. While his counting numbers might not be that of Flagg’s, Powell’s ability to hold each of his opponents well below their averages is a testament to what he is capable of.

That’s some high praise.

Per Shaw, Powell is considered one of the top perimeter defenders and he’s right there close to the top of the list. While it’s been Powell’s game on offense that has earned him praise, seeing his defense get mentioned is a big plus.

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