Drake Powell won't be sporting the same number he wore during his short stint with the UNC basketball program.
After being selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Powell is now heading to Brooklyn to join the Nets organization. Based on a post that he included on his Instagram story, it appears that the now-rookie wing will be wearing No. 4 to begin his professional career.
Looks like Drake Powell will wear #4 for the Brooklyn Nets pic.twitter.com/rv0MiF3MhL
— The Joesen One (@Joe_Martin13) June 27, 2025
The number choice is interesting, given that Powell wore different numbers at both the high school and college level. While competing at Northwood High School, Powell wore the No. 32, while he sported the No. 9 during his lone season at North Carolina.
He might have wanted to wear the No. 4 at North Carolina, but, as we all know, that number was already being used by a pretty notable Tar Heel (who will have that same jersey number hanging in the Dean Smith Center rafters in the near future). However, Powell made No. 9 his own in Chapel Hill, and will look to make his new jersey number be well-known as he kicks off his NBA career.
While his selection received mixed reviews from members of the media, the fan base seemed to love the draft pick. The Nets had an historic first round, making a staggering five selections, as Powell's addition to the roster was one that fans seemed to be excited about on social media.
Powell ended the UNC basketball program's first-round pick drought, and proved the next day that even though he only spent a short amount of time on campus, he will always consider himself a Tar Heel.