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What exactly is Drake Powell talking about?
Maybe Powell needed help from former Tar Heel and short-lived teammate Cam Johnson, who was traded by the Nets after the NBA Draft and Powell getting picked No. 22 by Atlanta and then traded to Brooklyn. Since then, Powell has been asked repeatedly about his “usage drop” during his one season at Carolina.
Powell was an all-state and 5-star recruit from Pittsboro Northwood, where he played close to every minute of every game as a junior and senior. Was he really expecting to get that much time at UNC?
Hubert Davis has taken a lot of guff, but he shouldn’t have for using Powell where he thought it was best for his team that was deep on the perimeter and needed more athleticism in the paint.
So Powell did not start the first 13 games of season for the Tar heels and played just as much at the No. 4 position (power forward) than small forward or the 3-spot, as Carolina calls it.
Through the first 13 games of his college career, Powell had the stats you would expect for a newbie talent with great potential but lots of seasoning needed.
He averaged 21-plus minutes during those 13 games, 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds, playing mostly inside or at the corners. When Powell moved out to shooting forward or guard, his playing time jumped up to more than 27 minutes per game, starting 18 times.
So I’m not sure where the “usage” issue comes from, whether it is Powell being asked those questions or Drake answering them. He was clearly one of Carolina’s best players the second half of the season, especially when Ian Jackson went from hot to cold and to the bench. Jackson had been listed as a higher projected draft pick, but after his playing time had tailed off at season’s end, he entered the transfer portal and will now play at St. John’s.
How this discussion turned into total apples and oranges baffles me. Powell averaged just under 18 points and 8 rebounds and 4.5 assists at Northwood. He showed his length and defensive ability at Carolina, which scouts say helped in the draft.
Were his agents saying he needed to play more so all of their money would go up? Funny, when his minutes increased, his scoring and rebounding averages stayed the same while his blocks and steals increased. Those are defensive indicators.
So when he talks about his usage going down from high school to college, what exactly did he expect? Hubert actually helped his draft status during UNC’s late-season run with more playing time, which lifted him from the second round to getting picked late first.
Ironically, 6-8 Cam Johnson leaving may give 6-6 Powell a shot at more playing time. But Cam won’t be there to help him adjust to the NBA so he has a chance to make the big roster.
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Featured image via Todd Melet
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Chansky’s Notebook: The Agent Effect? Chapelboro.com.
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