When Luke Stevenson's name was called in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the University of North Carolina accomplished something that not many other schools were able to do this year.
Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina are the only three schools to produce a 1st-round pick in the NFL, NBA and MLB Drafts this year.
— Bryan Ives (@awaytoworthy) July 14, 2025
Only three schools in the entire country: Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina, produced first round draft picks in the NFL, NBA and MLB Drafts.
Tar Heel fans are well-aware of who those players are. Omarion Hampton was the No. 22 overall pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, while Drake Powell was also selected at No. 22 in his draft class by the Brooklyn Nets.
Stevenson didn't carry on the streak of North Carolina Tar Heels selected at No. 22, but his selection by the Seattle Mariners at No. 35 overall is good enough to give the university a first round pick in each respective draft.
The only other programs to accomplish this rare feat this year are Arizona and Michigan.
It's always great to see the University of North Carolina producing first round talents in multiple sports. This year ended a small drought (one that felt like an eternity) for the UNC basketball program, as Powell became the first Tar Heel since Day'Ron Sharpe to hear his name called among the first round selections.
Even though the running back position is one that isn't valued like it used to, Hampton still found a way to be selected in the first round, which shouldn't surprise anyone given what he accomplished as a member of the UNC football program.
Stevenson wasn't the first catcher taken off the board, but you could make a very strong case that he's one of, if not the, best backstop that this draft class has to offer. His two outstanding seasons at North Carolina, both offensively and defensively, have the Mariners hopeful that they found their catcher of the future.
The hope is that the first round draft pick success continues to roll in for the University of North Carolina, as this year was a memorable one in that aspect.