All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Recruiting: Five-Star Forward Visits Tar Heels Again

Future UNC basketball wing Drake Powell is on campus often these days.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Friday night's 117-53 exhibition win over St. Augustine's did not mark Drake Powell's first time attending a UNC basketball game in the Dean E. Smith Center. And it likely won't be his last this season, as the 2024 Tar Heel commit attends nearby Northwood High School in Pittsboro.

Two weeks ago, he took an official visit to UNC, checking out the basketball team's Live Action event and the football squad's 41-31 victory over Miami in Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Sure, there's little work involved in Powell getting to Chapel Hill. Even so, his repeated appearances on campus feel like a sure sign the 6-foot-6, 195-pound forward will put his commitment in ink during the early signing period (Nov. 8-15).

Drake Powell, a versatile five-star prospect, has jumped 72 spots to No. 4 overall among high school seniors in the eyes of 247Sports since his commitment to UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his crew over 13 months ago.

He's one of three Tar Heel recruiting prizes in the 2024 arena. The other two are five-star guard Ian Jackson (No. 10 in the class, per 247Sports) out of Our Saviour Lutheran School (N.Y.) and four-star center James Brown (No. 91) out of Link Academy (Mo.).

For now, UNC's recruiting wishlist does not include any undecided 2024 preps.

The Tar Heels' 2024 haul, once the nation's top-ranked collection due to the relatively early pledges from all three pieces (not to mention current first-year UNC guard Elliot Cadeau before his reclassification), now sits at No. 2, per the 247Sports ranking, below Missouri's five-deep class.

Highlights From Tar Heels' Blowout Exhibition Win

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball recruting news.

Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

Home/Basketball