Drake Powell is league-bound.

The former Tar Heel standout, who spent his lone college season with UNC, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft Wednesday night. However, due to a three-team trade between the Hawks, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, Powell will be headed to Brooklyn.

“The Carolina Basketball family is so happy and thrilled for Drake and his family,” said head coach Hubert Davis. “Drake was a dream to coach, and this is just the start of a long and successful NBA career. The Brooklyn Nets are getting an elite player, who makes winning plays consistently on both ends of the floor, in addition to being a wonderful young man.”

Powell, a former five-star recruit from Pittsboro’s Northwood High School, elected to stay home and play for UNC – his parents’ alma mater – in college. Though the 2024-25 season as a whole for the Tar Heels was up and down, Powell provided a boost with his defensive capabilities and outstanding athleticism. The six-foot-six wing also showed flashes of his offensive game as the season progressed, finishing as the team’s second-best three-point shooter. His 37.9 three-point percentage ranked second on the team, behind only Ian Jackson.

This marks the second straight summer in which a Tar Heel has been selected in the draft, after Harrison Ingram was selected in the second round by the San Antonio Spurs in 2024. Powell is the 121st Tar Heel to be selected, which ranks UNC third among all schools for all-time NBA Draft picks. Only Kentucky and UCLA have more.

Powell is also the 55th first-round pick to come from UNC. Only Kentucky and Duke account for more.

With Brooklyn, Powell will potentially join two other former Tar Heels. Cameron Johnson is currently with the team, while Day’Ron Sharpe is entering restricted free agency after spending the first four years of his career with the Nets.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: Tweener No More
When Harrison Ingram transferred to UNC, it was almost a sure bet he would stay two seasons in Chapel Hill.
Brady Manek Signs With Charlotte Hornets
Brady Manek is league-bound, and he won’t have to travel very far. The UNC men’s basketball star and fan favorite signed with the Charlotte Hornets Friday afternoon, and will play with the team in the NBA’s annual Summer League. @BradyManek is heading to Charlotte for this year's Summer League 🔥 Congratulations to Brady Manek and […]
Former Tar Heel Garrison Brooks Signs Contract With New York Knicks
Garrison Brooks is headed to the Big Apple. The former Tar Heel big man, who spent last year playing at Mississippi State, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks Friday. BREAKING NEWS: Former UNC basketball standout Garrison Brooks has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks.https://t.co/jPIhfFNcuF — Keeping It […]
Holding Court: Building A Champion in the 21st Century
How Many Future NBA Players Does It Take To Build An NCAA Champion In Modern Era? By David Glenn   (Part Five of a Six-Part NCAA/NBA Draft Series leading up to the June 23 NBA Draft, following Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four) When one or two Kansas players (senior guard Ochai […]
Chansky's Notebook: Deadline Dilemma
Is Hubert Davis willing to play the waiting game? One week remains before the deadline for players who have declared for the NBA Draft to pull themselves out and return to college. And some of them are also in the transfer portal and can pick a second school to play for next season. It’s pretty […]
Here's the Summer Timeline for Potential NBA Draft Eligibility
This summer will see plenty of roster turnover across the college basketball landscape, as players choose to either stay in school, enter the transfer portal or enter their name into the annual NBA Draft. Only one UNC starter, graduate forward Brady Manek, has completely exhausted his collegiate eligibility. Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, Caleb Love and […]
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Navy (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC is back in action at the Smith Center Tuesday night when the Tar Heels host Navy. A win against the Midshipmen would move Carolina to 5-0 on the season, tying its best start in five seasons under head coach Hubert Davis. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow […]
Caleb Wilson Shines As UNC Men's Basketball Stuffs North Carolina Central
Freshman star Caleb Wilson recorded his second consecutive double-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four blocks to help Carolina dispatch North Carolina Central 97-53 Friday night at the Smith Center. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/6MUdJderdT — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) November 15, 2025 Wilson scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the […]
4-Star Recruit Maximo Adams Commits to UNC Men's Basketball, Hubert Davis
Maximo Adams, who 247 Sports rates as a four-star recruit and the No. 24 overall player in his class, committed to UNC Friday.
Chansky's Notebook: Long Legacy
Art Chansky reviews the rich basketball history of North Carolina Central before the Eagles visit the Dean Smith Center tonight.
›