The North Carolina Tar Heels had a challenging season under head coach Hubert Davis, finishing with a 23-14 overall record and a 13-7 mark in ACC play, placing them below Wake Forest, SMU, and Louisville in the standings.
Despite this setback, the future appeared promising for North Carolina, especially with their freshman talent from the previous season, including former five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.
However, after the news of Jackson transferring to St. John’s, Powell has now made his own announcement.
On Wednesday, Powell revealed to ESPN that he will be declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft, foregoing his remaining eligibility.
NEWS: North Carolina freshman Drake Powell is declaring for the 2025 NBA draft, he told ESPN. Powell, one of the best perimeter defenders in this draft, shot 38% for 3 this season. pic.twitter.com/SmqOSuvGob
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 23, 2025
Throughout the season, Powell provided valuable floor spacing, shooting 48.3% overall and 37.9% from three-point range, while averaging 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in 25.5 minutes.
By March, he had demonstrated his two-way potential for a North Carolina team seeking consistency in the ACC.
He excelled in key games, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds in a victory against Miami on March 1, and contributing 17 points in a strong 82-67 win over SMU earlier in the season.
His declaration positions him as one of the youngest prospects in the 2025 draft class.
For UNC, this announcement comes at a tough time. Powell’s exit removes a key source of reliable shooting from a roster that heavily relies on it.
Last season, North Carolina ranked fifth in the conference for three-point shooting with a 35.6% average, and now they’ve lost two of their top shooters in Jackson and Powell.
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