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From Draft Night to Camp Day: Drake Powell shows up at UNC hours after being drafted

No one would blame Powell if he wanted to celebrate or prepare to head to Brooklyn, but the former Tar Heel wanted to be in Chapel Hill!
ByNick Delahanty|
Mar 13, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Drake Powell (9) goes to the basket against Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Parker Friedrichsen (7) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Mar 13, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Drake Powell (9) goes to the basket against Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Parker Friedrichsen (7) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Becoming a first-round draft pick is a dream that millions of people have. For Drake Powell, that dream became a reality on Wednesday, being selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Now, following arguably the biggest night in his young life, Powell likely has plenty of things to do. For starters, he has to prepare to head to Brooklyn for his introductory press conference, and will now be situating himself as he prepares to begin his NBA career.

Heck, the guy might just want to celebrate with his family or even get some rest!

However, Powell was up bright and early on Thursday, making a special appearance at the UNC basketball program's camp.

Isaac Schade provided the video footage below. As you can see, Powell is walking through a crowd of campers, receiving a very nice ovation from those in the room.

Remember, Powell wasn't invited to the NBA Draft green room, so he likely took in the big night from his hometown of Pittsboro. Given his proximity to Chapel Hill, it would make sense for him to make a special appearance at the UNC basketball program's camp, as the now former Tar Heel is wasting no time giving back to the place he called home for his brief collegiate career.

This just goes to show what type of character Drake Powell has. Whenever you read or heard something about the former five-star prospect, it always involved something about how he is a valuable member within the locker room.

Sure, his play on the court earned him this opportunity to be a first round pick, but his character makes him even more of an asset, especially for an organization like the Nets who are aiming to quickly rebuild over the next few seasons.

While Drake Powell is now set to begin his career in the NBA, he'll look to make a major impact for the Brooklyn Nets. However, his appearance this morning in Chapel Hill was a friendly reminder that wherever life takes him, Drake Powell will always be a Tar Heel, and he's certainly proud to be a member of the Carolina family.

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