A key piece to the UNC basketball rotation as a starter and reserve, five-star rookie Drake Powell from nearby Pittsboro, N.C., has produced swings in production while developing and, at times, fully displaying his top-shelf potential as an athletically gifted talent for the Tar Heels (14-11, 7-6 ACC).

After recording four points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and three fouls across 26 minutes off the bench in Monday night’s 85-65 road loss to No. 23-ranked Clemson, Powell is averaging 7.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 24.1 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-6, 195-pound wing is shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from deep, and 63.3 percent at the charity stripe.

At this time last year, Drake Powell was a McDonald’s All American alongside fellow projected UNC basketball one-and-done Ian Jackson. Now, he sits alongside RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau as the only 2024-25 UNC Tar Heels who have played in every contest while averaging over 24 minutes per game.

Drake Powell and Hubert Davis’ fourth UNC basketball team, who have lost five of their past seven games, are now gearing up for a road test against the Syracuse Orange (11-13, 5-8 ACC) at 6 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN).

MORE LATE-SEASON TAR HEEL REPORT CARDS: Ven-Allen Lubin, Elliot Cadeau, Seth Trimble, Ian Jackson, RJ Davis

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