CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina freshman Drake Powell announced his intentions to declare for the 2025 NBA Draft on ESPN Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-6 wing started 24 games for the Tar Heels this season, averaging 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range.

Tar Heel Nation, thank you for embracing and supporting me through the highs and lows of the past season,” Powell said in a statement. “I have learned so much both on and off the court. I was born and bred a Tar Heel, and to have the opportunity to put on that uniform, run through that tunnel, and compete for the University that I love is a feeling that is unmatched and I’ll never take that for granted.

ESPN’s latest mock draft, which came out on April 8, projected Powell to go to the Minnesota Timberwolves with the first pick of the second round, No. 31 overall. The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25, but Powell could still pull his name out of the player pool, as long as he does so by the early entry withdrawal deadline of June 15.

If Powell does decide to leave, UNC will have a big hole to fill in the middle of its lineup. The Tar Heels have brought in a handful of players via the transfer portal, but none of them quite have the positional versatility that Powell gave the team.