Drake Powell is predicted by a mock draft to play basketball for UNC in Orlando.
UNC’s Drake Powell Projected to Join Former Tar Heel Cole Anthony in Orlando
Former UNC forward Drake Powell, who recently declared for the NBA Draft after just one season in Chapel Hill, could soon find himself reunited with a fellow Tar Heel in the pros.
According to the latest mock draft from NBA Draft On SI, Powell is projected to be selected 45th overall by the Orlando Magic — placing him squarely in the middle of the second round. If that prediction holds, he’d potentially join forces with Cole Anthony, another UNC one-and-done who starred for the Tar Heels in the 2019–20 season and is now a veteran guard for the Magic.
Anthony, 24, just completed his fifth NBA season, all with Orlando, helping lead the team to its second consecutive playoff appearance. This past season, he contributed 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, often stepping up in high-pressure moments.
Powell, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound wing from North Carolina, still has a chance to improve his stock through pre-draft workouts and the NBA Combine. In his lone season at UNC, he averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, starting more than half of the team’s 37 games while showcasing athleticism and strong defensive instincts.
As of now, Powell remains the only Tar Heel from the 2024–25 roster projected to be selected in this year’s NBA Draft, and he’s also the only player from that squad to declare early. The draft will take place June 25–26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Duke Responds to Tuesday’s Major Mike Krzyzewski Announcement
The Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball program has long been recognized as a dominant force in college basketball
Although the program was defined for decades by legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, it is now under the leadership of head coach Jon Scheyer. In just his third season at the helm, Scheyer guided Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance, continuing the program’s storied success. Scheyer, a former Blue Devil player himself, began his coaching career at Duke as an assistant from 2014 to 2018, later serving as associate head coach from 2018 to 2022 before taking over for Krzyzewski.
While Scheyer’s achievements have been widely praised, the spotlight shifted back to Krzyzewski on Tuesday with news of his induction into the 2025 Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Team USA announced the honor, and Duke celebrated on social media, using emojis like the goat (symbolizing “Greatest of All Time”) and three gold medals — a nod to both Krzyzewski’s Olympic success and the school’s proud tradition.
Krzyzewski coached the U.S. men’s national team to three straight Olympic gold medals and was named head coach of Team USA seven times between 2006 and 2016. According to Team USA, he remains the only men’s coach to have won Olympic and FIBA World Cup golds in addition to an NCAA championship.
Across his 42-year tenure at Duke from 1980 to 2022, Krzyzewski amassed a legacy that includes five NCAA titles, 13 Final Four appearances, 15 ACC Tournament championships, and 13 ACC regular-season crowns — cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
As the transfer market heats up, Duke Basketball is eyeing a West Coast star.
Duke Basketball Eyes West Coast Star as Transfer Market Heats Up
Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils aren’t finished building yet.
With their eyes still firmly set on a championship run, the Blue Devils are reportedly targeting a major name in the transfer portal: USC guard Desmond Claude. According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Duke has reached out to the 6-foot-6 senior guard in hopes of adding another high-level playmaker to its already stacked roster.
Claude is no stranger to the spotlight. He first caught national attention at Xavier, then spent last season at Southern Cal, where he posted impressive numbers: 15.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game while starting 32 of 33 contests. His size, versatility, and ability to create plays make him one of the top uncommitted prospects in the portal.
What makes this pursuit even more intriguing is the list of schools also in the mix. Per Borzello, Claude is hearing from blue bloods like Kentucky and Gonzaga, as well as Virginia and Ole Miss. But North Carolina, which once recruited him, is notably not involved this time around — making this a potential one-on-one battle between Duke and some of its fiercest rivals.
Claude has stated he’s looking for a “proven backcourt mate to share playmaking duties” and a “team built for a deep run.” Duke fits both criteria perfectly. With returning talent and a coach who has quickly proven his ability to win at the highest level, the Blue Devils could offer the perfect platform for Claude’s final college campaign.
This move would be especially significant given Duke’s transfer strategy this cycle. So far, the Blue Devils have only landed one commitment Cedric Coward and even he is still testing NBA Draft waters. Notably, Duke is one of the few elite programs that hasn’t lost a single scholarship player to the portal this year.
Adding Claude would send a clear message: Duke is all-in on 2025.
With one of the most exciting offseasons in recent memory unfolding, and Scheyer continuing to target high-impact veterans, don’t count out another Blue Devil splash in the portal. The next few weeks could define Duke’s national title hopes and Desmond Claude may be a key piece of that puzzle
