Drake Powell is one of the most talented prospects for next year’s draft. As of now, he sets his sights on being the star of the Tar Heels roster.
Drake Powell comes from an athletic family. His family is not new to North Carolina, as his mother was also a prominent basketball player for UNC. His dad was another UNC athlete who played baseball. However, his ties with UNC do not stop there. His now-head coach, Hubert Davis, is his cousin. Therefore, Powell’s familiarity with the university will be an upside for his potential in the program.
Powell was raised in North Carolina and played basketball for Northwood High School. He had a decent stint as a high school baller putting up 17.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game as a senior. Because of his sufficient stats, he was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game. He was deemed a 5-star recruit and highly sought after. Offers came rushing in from top-tier colleges, such as Georgia and Texas A&M, but the young North Carolina native saw it best fit to stay home.
Now a Tar Heel, Powell is seen as someone who can maintain North Carolina as a threat for the national championship. He is a well-capable defender due to his high competitiveness and God-given abilities. Standing at 6 ‘7 with a long wingspan, Powell stands as an intimidating opposing force on the defensive end who has shown to be a blocker and a retriever of balls.
For Powell to leverage his talent at Chapel Hill, he needs to stick and develop the skills he is proficient at. Drake finds himself in good positions to score the ball his way. He is an absolute slasher at the rim who is explosive off the dribble. Because he is a dynamic driver, he can be a viable source of impactful points and finishes. Pairing up alongside college men won’t be a problem for Powell due to his sturdy frame, and he’ll only be getting bigger.
Therefore, UNC can use him as a defensive catalyst when on the floor. As an energetic defender, he’ll be a reliable rim protector and turnover initiator for opposing teams. Because of his elevating vertical, he can also grab some much-needed rebounds to maximize the possessions for the Tar Heels. Being put on the wing can also be beneficial for the forward since there he can put up an occasional jump-shot or pass by the defender for an easy lay.
However, there are some areas that Powell could work on. For instance, Powell can polish his handle package. Although his current handles allow him to get by defenders, furthering his already shifty nature can allow him to gain more space to score more buckets. As for his scoring capabilities, Powell should improve his shooting as well. He can score an occasional three or jump-shot, but being able to be more consistent away from the basket will do favors for his offensive impact.
Powell has shown himself to be an undeniable enhancer for the Tar Heels roster as well as a promising talent in the league. However, to boost his draft stock to land high in the Draft, he has to put in the work towards shooting and dribbling. Nevertheless, he is an imposing influence on both sides of the floor and his driven nature will be compatible with the Tar Heels winning culture. It will be fascinating to see how this relationship will turn out this season. What we do know this season is that Drake Powell will be on his own road.
