Late-Season Report Card: UNC Basketball Freshman Drake Powell

The UNC basketball forward sits sixth in the first 2024-25 North Carolina Tar Heels On SI player grades.

UNC basketball forward Drake Powell / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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.

Late-Season UNC Basketball Player Grade for Drake Powell: 85.0 (B)

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).

RANKED LATE-SEASON NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS ON SI REPORT CARDS:

1. RJ Davis

2. Ian Jackson

3. Seth Trimble

4. Elliot Cadeau

5. Ven-Allen Lubin

6. Drake Powell

7. Jalen Washington

8. Jae'Lyn Withers

9. Ty Claude

10. Cade Tyson

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball news.