Drake Powell's NBA dream has come true.
The Atlanta Hawks selected the Tar Heel freshman with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night before trading him to the Brooklyn Nets, completing an impressive rise for the Pittsboro, N.C., native from high school to college to the pros in just over a year.
Powell becomes the 55th Tar Heel to be an NBA first-round pick, marking the third-highest total of any school in the nation. He's the first UNC first-round pick since Day'Ron Sharpe in 2021.
Powell is the 120th all-time Carolina player to be selected in the NBA Draft, and he is the eighth Tar Heel freshman to be drafted, joining a list that includes Marvin Williams (2005), Brandan Wright (2007), Tony Bradley (2017), Coby White (2019), Nassir Little (2019), Cole Anthony (2020) and Sharpe (2021).
Powell was named Carolina's Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25 and led the team in plus/minus 10 times during the season, three more times than any other Tar Heel. He's the fourth freshman to be named the team's top defensive player, joining Raymond Felton, Marcus Paige and Sharpe.
Powell shot 49.5 percent from the floor overall, including 56.4 percent in the final 10 games, and finished sixth on the team in scoring at 7.4 points per game.
Powell scored in double figures 10 times with a season high of 18 points versus Michigan State in the Maui Invitational. His ACC scoring highs were 17 in a win over SMU and 16 against Miami.
THE PICK IS IN ‼️
Drake goes at pick No. 22, which is traded to the Brooklyn Nets. #NBADraft | #ProHeels pic.twitter.com/iVhElk4GyH
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) June 26, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets have agreed in principle to acquire the draft rights to @powellxdrake from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that is expected to be finalized at a later date. pic.twitter.com/05EQeHc5zr
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 26, 2025