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The 2025 offseason will be a critical one for the North Carolina Tar Heels as they face some big decisions in terms of their roster. After an early exit from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels need to find a way to get back to the standard of the program.
And it's almost certain that next year's roster will look a lot different.
As we have already seen Elliot Cadeau and Jalen Washington enter the portal, other decisions await. That includes potential NBA decisions as well with Ian Jackson and Drake Powell being the top two prospects on the roster from last season. But where do both stand in draft rankings?
In ESPN's latest draft stock watch from Jonathan Givony, the Tar Heels have two players in the top 100 rankings updated this week. Leading the way for the Tar Heels is Powell who is at No. 31 followed by Jackson who is at No. 56.
Powell's stock has been on the rise as Jeremy Woo wrote:
Powell's freshman season ended with North Carolina's first-round loss to Ole Miss, leaving questions going into the predraft process that place him on the fringe of the first round. He's a sturdy wing defender who guarded multiple positions effectively with his length and good instincts this season.
He struggled with confidence at times in a suboptimal team context, and never settled in away from the ball in an offense dominated by the Tar Heels' guards. Powell shot 37% from 3 this season, offering hope for a long-term 3-and-D role at the next level. He flashed some passing ability that wasn't often evident in the stat sheet. He might greatly benefit from a second season in college to showcase his skills. -- Woo
While the numbers aren't eye-popping, Powell has the traits that scouts are raving about. That could help his draft stock moving forward.
As for Jackson, it never really materialized in his freshman season. After arriving as a five-star recruit, Jackson's ceiling was high and some considered him a lottery pick. We saw flashes of his scoring ability in stretches of games last season but we also saw him struggle.
Both are going to have decisions to make in terms of their future and it will be interesting to see what happens if neither get the first-round guarantee in the draft process.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Where does Drake Powell and Ian Jackson land in latest NBA draft stock
Continue reading...
And it's almost certain that next year's roster will look a lot different.
As we have already seen Elliot Cadeau and Jalen Washington enter the portal, other decisions await. That includes potential NBA decisions as well with Ian Jackson and Drake Powell being the top two prospects on the roster from last season. But where do both stand in draft rankings?
In ESPN's latest draft stock watch from Jonathan Givony, the Tar Heels have two players in the top 100 rankings updated this week. Leading the way for the Tar Heels is Powell who is at No. 31 followed by Jackson who is at No. 56.
Powell's stock has been on the rise as Jeremy Woo wrote:
Powell's freshman season ended with North Carolina's first-round loss to Ole Miss, leaving questions going into the predraft process that place him on the fringe of the first round. He's a sturdy wing defender who guarded multiple positions effectively with his length and good instincts this season.
He struggled with confidence at times in a suboptimal team context, and never settled in away from the ball in an offense dominated by the Tar Heels' guards. Powell shot 37% from 3 this season, offering hope for a long-term 3-and-D role at the next level. He flashed some passing ability that wasn't often evident in the stat sheet. He might greatly benefit from a second season in college to showcase his skills. -- Woo
While the numbers aren't eye-popping, Powell has the traits that scouts are raving about. That could help his draft stock moving forward.
As for Jackson, it never really materialized in his freshman season. After arriving as a five-star recruit, Jackson's ceiling was high and some considered him a lottery pick. We saw flashes of his scoring ability in stretches of games last season but we also saw him struggle.
Both are going to have decisions to make in terms of their future and it will be interesting to see what happens if neither get the first-round guarantee in the draft process.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Where does Drake Powell and Ian Jackson land in latest NBA draft stock
Continue reading...
