First-year forward Drake Powell announced he is declaring for the NBA Draft on Wednesday afternoon on his Instagram. Inside Carolina reported Powell is maintaining his college eligibility with the option to return to UNC.
"Competing at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal," Powell said in his post. "This decision was nowhere near easy."
The 6-foot-6, Pittsboro, N.C. native averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Starting in 24 out of North Carolina's 37 games in the 2024-25 season, Powell averaged 25.5 minutes per game, shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 37.9 from three.
ESPN's latest mock draft predicts Powell will be selected as the first pick of the second round — No. 31 overall. Powell has until May 28 to withdraw from the draft, should he chose to do so.
