Tag: Drake Powell

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.

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2aTzzHutAo/?img_index=1

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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